The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-30
ROOSEVELT HEARS NEWS President Gratified That
 Peace Has Come. HAD NOT GIVEN UP HOPE Secretary Loeb Notified Over
 Telephone. Chief Executive Feels That Successful Issue of Conference is Great
 Triumph for Humanity
 and Civilization.

Oyster Bay. AuR. Eo.--Ah HIS at SaEamore Hill President Roosevelt shortly before 1 o'clock this afternoon received the announcement that the Russian and Japanese plenipotentiaries at Portsmouth had reached an agree ment and would proceed at once to ar range terms of a treaty of peace The announcement had not been ex- pected today. The President at no tune during the negotiations had abandoned hope of a successful issue of the confer ence. but he had realized more clearly than any one man In the world the enormous difficulties which confronted the envoys in their deliberations. While he has not for a moment relaxed his earnest efforts to induce the conterees to continue their discussion with a view to securing basis of agreement, he had felt for forty eight hours that the task he had set for himself in the interest of humanity and civilization was we'll nigh hopeless.
 The Presidents final appeals to St. Petersburg and Tekio had been made No response had been received from the Orient, but from Peterhof palace had come, in Emperor Nicholas's own words. Russla's ultimatum--Not a. kos pee of indemnity, not a verst of terrt- tory"
 The situation looked black, indeed. The President. however, did not despair. With the final terms of the Japanese Government as soon as they should be received from Japan's Emperor. he had determined to seek the aid of Emperor William of Germany In support of his proposition that the warning parties submit their points of difference to the arbitrament of an impartial tribunal. Arbitration in one form or another had been the Presidents solution of the diff ficulty ever since the differences, seem ingly irreconciliable by the envoys, had arisen. To this proposition, Japan had acceded. With the powerful influence of the German Emperor at Peterhof en- listed, 1t was hoped that the ground of objection might be cut from beneath the feet of Emperor Nicholas. "s F.:
 Loeb Tells President. --.
 This was to he President Roosevelt's supreme effort to insure a just and lasting peace" The Presidents thought of his final appeal was inter- rupted by the tlnkle of the bell of the telephone on his desk. Mir Loeb, Sec retary to the President answered the call ..@s .....- ~'~~..--..: :.
 'WhatT he eagerly inquired as the message was given him. .ss .>.
 The message was repeated. He mani fested SO much excitement and incre- dulity that the President inquired, What is it7'
 IL IS dHnounCeu Dy the AbSOC1ateQ Press in an official bulletin from Portsmouth" replied Secretary Loeb. that the plenipotentiaries have agreed on all points of difference and will pro- ceed to negotiate treaty of peace"
 That is fine-splendid." exclaimed the President. But" as the doubt passed through his mind. do you think 1t Is authenticT
 Tt is a perfectly definite state mont T,Oah raapondad
 Good. good" the President ex- claimed.
 The joyful tidings soon spread through the Roosevelt household The President did not conceal his gratifca- ton at the successful issue of the peace conference, the initiative of which had come from him and his feeling of satis- faction at the outcome permeated the entire entourage of Sagamore Hill. It was a joyful family party that assem- bed few minutes afterward around the hospitable board of President Roosevelt.
 Oaicial confirmation of the historic tidings reached the President at 220 o'clock in a cipher dispatch from Ports mouth. By authority and at the re- quest of Baron Komura. the chief envoy of Japan, the dispatch stated, The plenipotentiaries of Japan have with drawn their claim for reimbursement of war expenses and an agreement has been reached as to the partition of the Island of Sakhalin. Ali main points have been definitely settled. The plen- ipotentiaries will now proceed with discussion of details"
 By Special MassenEer.
 Shortly after the receipt of this mes sage the full Associated Press reports of the scenes at Portsmouth incident to the announcement of the .ews there, including M Wittes statement of the adjustment of the difficulties by the conferees, was received a the execu- tive office and carried by a special mes- home. He read the account with deep interest
 While the President did not seek to conceal his qualification that the con ference had reached an agreement, he said he was obliged, under the circum- stances. to refrain from any formal ex- pression regarding the work accom- plished. until he should have been in- formed fully as to the details. It can he said, however. that he feels that the successful Issue of the conference Is a great triumph for humanity and civili- zation. Such public expression as he may make regarding the work of the conference will be announced after he shall have had opportunity carefully to consider 1t.
 It is regarded here as likely that the first important work of the conferees, now that d general agreement has been reached on the main points of differ
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