The leader., 1905-06-17
THE PRESIDENT
AS PEACEMAKER
An. Effort to Bring the Two Wa &
Powers Together.
sANGUlNE HOPES OF SUCCESS
An Identical Note Dispatched to
Russia ana Japan, Urging Them,
sn the Name Of Humanity, TO
Conclude Peace.

" N@SAAAAAt WI OdAAC ~ w AACn AGoA-
dent Roosevelt left Washington, FRI
day. on two days trip to Virginia,
he was confident that the result of the
international negotiations for peace in
the far east had been successful and
that the final blow in the Russo-Jap-
anese war had been struck.
While extreme reticence is manifest
ed in every official and diplomatic
quarter, it is known authoritatively
that the exchanges which have been in
progress for the last ten days between
the Washington government and the
powers of the world, including the two
beliigerent nations, has been success
full to an unexpected degree. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who has taken the lead
in the negotiations, has been accorded
the cordial support of the great conti-
mental powers, including Russia's near
est friend, France. The direct repre-
sentations made through Ambassador
Meyer, at st. Petersburg, to the car,
were received by Emperor Nicholas in
a most friendly spirit. Toxic respond
ed. in an equally amicable way So
near are the two warning powers to
amicable contact at this moment that
In all Washington circles, official and
diplomatic, mere hopefulness has given
way to notable optimism.
1t is not unlikely that Within 4S
hours a-definite statement of the situa-
tion may be issued from ST. Peters
burg, Toxic or Washington which will
throw clear light on it. 1t can be said
that only Toxic remains yet to be
heard from regarding a phase of the
negotiations. That the response of the
mikado's government will be favorable,
no doubt is entertained.
"On June 9Th the following dispatch
was sent by the president, through dip
lomatic channels, to the japanese and
Russian governments:
The president feels that the
time has come when in the inter-
est of all mankind he must endeav-
or to see if. it is not possible to
bring to an end the terrible and
lamentable conflict now being
waged With both Russia and ia
pan the United States has inherit
ed ties of friendship and good will.
1t hopes for the prosperity and
welfare of each, and it feels that
the progress of the world is set
back by the war between these two
great nations. The president, ac-
cordingly urges the Russian and
Japanese governments not only for
their own sakes, but in the interest
of the whole civilized world, to
open direct negotiations for peace
with one another The president
suggests that these negotiations
be conducted directly and exclu-
sively between the belligerents; in
other words, that there may be a
meeting of Russian and Japanese
plenipotentaries or delegates with
out any Intermediary, in order to
see if it is not possible for these
representatives of the two powers
to agree to terms of peace. The
president earnestly asks that the
(Russian), (Japanese) government
do now agree to such a meeting,
and is asking the (Japanese), rus
sian) government likewise to agree.
While the president does not feel
that any intermediary should be
called in in respect to the peace
negotiations themselves, he is en-
tirely willing to do what he prop
erly can If the powers concerned
feelf that his services will be of
aid in arranging the preliminaries
as to the time and place of meet
ing. But if even these prelimina-
ries can be arranged directly be-
tween the two powers, or in any
other way, the president will be
glad, as his sole purpose is to bring
about a meeting which the whole
civilized world will pray may re-
suit in peace.
The foregoing note was forwarded to
the Russian and Japanese governments
Thursday afternoon. 1t is rendered
especially significant by the fact that
1t was prepared and sent only after as
surances had been received from To-
kio and st. Petersburg that such a
proposition would be welcomed. While
both Count Cassini. the Russian am
bassadoF, and Minister Takahira Of
Japan we're cognizant Of the nature Of
the note, it was not sent to their re-
spective governments through them,
It was cabled by direction of the presi-
dent to st. Petersburg and to Toxic,
and there delivered directly to the Rus
sian and Japanese governments, re-
spectively by Ambassador Meyer and
Minister Griscom.
Was JUST in Time.
Des Moines, Ia, June 1O.-Just in
time to stop what would have been the
fret 1aoal hanging in Iowa in ten