Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-09
Departure of the President
for a Short Stay.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WILL INSPECT COUNTRY PLACE
BOUGHT BY MRS. ROOSEVELT.
No Development of Importance in the
Peace Negotiations Expected
Immediately.

President Roosevelt left Washington this
morning a IL IL o'clock. over the Southern
railway. to spend two three days with
his friend Joseph Wilmer, near Rapidan,
Va. Mrs. Roosevelt having gone there yes
terday. The President may return to
Washington tomorrow night or he may
stay until Sunday night everything depend
ing on the progress of the peace negotia-
tions in which he has been engaged
President Roosevelt went down on the
regular train of the Southern railway, oc-
cupying special Pullman car. The only
attache of the White House who accom-
panied him was Stenographer Latta but
there were several secret service men and
two or three messengers and attendants
who also went along.
Secretary Loeb announced that Mrs.
Roosevelt had bought small country place.
about fifteen acres. near the home of Mr..
Wilmer. and she and the President expect
to look over it with the view of making
some improvements. 1t Is not contem-
plated that the President and his family
Will go there to live, but they will go there
for an occasional outing.
The small children of the President and
Mrs Roosevelt left today for Connecticut
on a brief visit TO friends, prior to going to
oyster bay for the summer.
Progress of Peace Negotiations.
Although the President will be out of i'm
mediate touch with Washington. he will
be close enough for important communica-
tons to reach him quickly and can re-
turn without delay to Washington If neces-
sary. AT the home of Mr. Wilmer, Presi-
dent and Mrs Roosevelt will be two mi es
from d telegraph station, where a COM
petent operator will be located but there
will be swift couriers serving between the
house and station. 1t is not anticipated,
anyhow. that the peace negotiations will
Immediately reach an acute stage. They
are of such character that their success
Will probably be promoted more by time
and caution than by haste.
The President was anticipating his alb
sence from Washington several days when
he called in a number of the members of
the diplomatic corps Yesterday afternoon
and Entrusted them with the situation to
date The President directed Secretary
Loeb to remain in Washington and trans
nit to him at once everything of impor
lance MIR. Loeb has always been the Pres
idents companion on his trips. and the fact
that he has been left behind this time may
indicate that the President is expecting
some messages. perhaps Japan's tentative
terms of peace. upon which the Russian
government desire to be informed.
The President also conferred with Acting
Secretary Loomis of the State Department
before leaving this morning, and Mr..
Loomis is authorized to watch the situation
closely and to promptly report anything of
Importance demanding prompt attention.
number of the diplomats who have been
Interested in pushing along the negotiations
are getting out of the city for a day or two.
Ambassador Sternburg of Germany going to
Deer Park; Ambassador Durand and his
first secretary. Hugh O'Beirne, to New
York To attend dinner. and SO on down the
line.
The actions of the President and all the
others most deeply concerned Is regarded as
hi, ktr1d "a
japan has been asked to submit peace
terms and that she is expected to take con-
siderable time in formulating a reply. 1t is
even probable that the answer of Japan Will
not be made for day or two, as the states
men of that country will want to discuss
the terms before they send them here. 1t Is
an important step with Japan and VIII not
be taken except after thorough deliberatlon.
AL this point in its career Japan might
make big mistake. and its rulers know it,
Diplomats See the President.
Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese minister,
called by appointment at the White House
yesterday afternoon and spent an hour
with the President. He was still unable
u give the President the slightest indica-
ton regarding Japans peace terms, but 1t
is believed he was acquainted in a general
way with the hopeful tone of Ambassador
Meyers dispatch from st. Petersburg, and
with this as a lever the hope is expressed
here that the mikado will meet the Pres
ident half way in the earnest efforts he Is
making to assist in bringing about an early
peace. Baron kaneko. the Japanese finan-
cial adviser, was also received by the Pres
ident and discussed the whole situation for
some time
Baron Kaneko last night said that Japan
had not received. directly or indirectly, any
request from Russia for statement OF
peace terms. 1t was intimated that Japan
would be loath to give any such statement
until convinced that Russia was prepared
to take up the question of peace with the
intention of ending the war.
Later in the afternoon Sir Mortimer Du-
rand, the British ambassador. the
President and last night was at the White
House for nearly an hour. AS he left the
White House he said that 1t would be i'm
possible for him to attempt TO throw any
light on the progress of peace negotiations.
He had no definite information himself. he
said. and indicated that that was not sur
prising inasmuch as Great Britain probably
would be the last country which possibly
could take an active part in the negotia-
tons for "a cessation of hostilities in the
east. He declined to discuss any of the de-
tails of his conference with the President.
Baron Speck Won SterhDurg the German
ambassador, called on the President last
night and had a conference of over half
an hour. The ambassador will leave for
Deer Park. Md. today. While he declined
TO discuss his visit, IL was apparent that
he was more hopeful of the efforts looking
toward peace.
None of the callers would discuss their
visits and it can be stated that with the
exception of the call of Mr.. Takahir3 none
of these visits was of great Importance.
Further instructions have been sent Am
bassador Meyer at ST. Petersburg, but
their character is not known Count Cas-
SIM, the Russian ambassador, called at the
French embassy, where he had a long talk
on the situation with Ambassador Jusse-
rand The Russian ambassador has not
yet made an appointment with the Pres
ident and il is impossible TO obtain any in
formation regarding the cablegrams that
have reached the embassy from St. Peters
burg in the last twenty-four hours