The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-15
ROOSEVELT WILL
CALL HAGUE MEET
President Will Issue Call for In
ternational Conference at
= The Hague. ,%
Final Step in Connection with the
War Between Russia and
= Japan.
Esw York Sun Special Service.

Washington, Sept. Is. - President
Roosevelt will, within week, take his
final step in connection with the Russo
Japanese war.
He will issue call to the powers to
hold an international conference which
shall amend the treaty of The Hague
SO as to make it more difficult for two
nations to go to war, and should they
do so, to compel them to adopt more
humane tactics than were observed dur
ing the struggle which has just closed.
The Horrors of War. +.
The idea to call such conference
has been in the president s mind for
more than year-almost, in fact,
from the time the war between Russia
and Japan began. The action of the
belligerents in planting mines so that
they drifted in the path Of neutral
commerce, causing the loss Of innocent
shipping and death of persons who had
no interest whatever in the hostilities;
the capture and sinking of neutral YES
sells because they had aboard what was
construed to be contraband of war; the
immense damage done to private prop
erty-all these things of first impor-
lance to every people in the world-de-
termined the president to use his eff
forts to induce, the powers to make
large amendments to The Hague treaty.
Powers Hesitated During War.
He communicated with the powers
last year as to the ACCESSIBILITY Of hold
ing conference, but while there was
provisional acceptance, it was evident
that fear Of offending Russia and Japan
by adopting. proposals which might re-
fleet upon their course and limit their
ttate. about appointing representatives.
Russia and Japan were not prepared
to participate in the congress while
they were engaged in a deadly struggle.
The president has decided, therefore,
to issue second call and to suggest
o meeting some time during the winter.
The American Commission.
The old commission Of the United
States comprised Andrew D. White, for
mer ambassador to Germany; Seth Low
Of New York; Stanford Newell, minis
ter to the Netherlands; Captain A. T.
Mahan, retired, Of the navy, and Brig
adler General William Crozier, chief of
the army bureau Of ordnance. Some of
these men may be reappointed. As
Mr.. Newell is no longer minister to the
but an appointment will be given DR.
David J. Hill, formerly assistant secre
tary of state, who is accredited to The
-, Hague government, and who always
has taken especial interest in the peace
movement. ...'t
Subjects for Conference.
It is expected that the president, il
the circular he will issue, will make
suggestions as to the subjects which
should be considered.
The president acted boldly in step
ping in during the Portsmouth negotia
tions, and has today international fam
as q result of the way in which h
brought those negotiations to a sue
cessful conclusion. By calling the sec
ond Hague conference, and havin,
adopted measures which will limit tn
hardship and sufferings in future wars
he. will still further increase the deb
humanity and civilization owes him.
With American prestige at such
high point at the present time, the pres
ident will be able largely to guide tn
thus will emphasize his right to tn
title Of peacemaker.
Japan Remains Friendly.
Tho the president had so much t
do in making Japan realize the. nece
sitY Of granting costly concessions
secure peace, the people in the Ian
Of the rising sun bear no anlm1o.slty I
him or to his country, according
reports received by the state depar
ment. A cablegram was received ye
terday from Lyold Griscom, America
minister at Toxic, describing the rio
ing at Yokohama and stating tn;
troops had been sent to establish 0
der. His dispatch added that at tt
time he was cabling quiet prevaile
that the people Of Japan would becon
embittered against the United Stat
as they had against Russia, FOLLOW
ing the Carbohydrates war in 1894 %
Russia, in combination with German
and France, forced Japan to evacua
exercised by the president was not
. military character. It was NOR;
and the people Of Japan evidently u
derstand it.
Ambitions of Iananese V