Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-28
KOMURA VISITS OYSTER BAY
Chief Japanese Envoy Pays His Respects to
President Roosevelt.
PLANS FOR RECEIVING pLeNlPoTEN1lARlEs
Parties VIII he Taken from New
York to Oyster Bay on Cruisers
on August 5-MOre Gossip
About Terms.


Roosevelt entertained at luncheon today
Baron Jurato Komura, minister of foreign
affairs, and Kogoro Takahira. minister to
the United States, the japanese envoys to
the Washington peace conference. Subse-
quently he had long interview with them,
at which all phases of the approaching
negotiations were considered. Neither the
president nor his Japanese visitors cared TO
discuss for publication the nature of their
conference except in the most general
terms
The president expressed his pleasure at
again meeting Baron Komura, whom he
had known several years and who was a
fellow graduate of college at Harvard.
Baron Komura and Minister Takahira
arrived here at 11:2O on the Long Island
train, to which had been attached a spe-
cial chair for their special use. They
were the only occupants of the car. No
one was permitted to enter the car. The
Visitors were met by confidential messen-
gers of the president, who escorted them
to an open surrey sent by the president
to convey them to Sagamore Hill. The
envoys were driven directly to Sycamore
HILL attracting considerable attention as
they passed through the village. They
remained with the president until $3.50
O'Clock and then were driven to the sta
tion.
Minister Takahira, speaking for both
Baron Komura and himself said they had
a pleasant and satisfactory VISIT and talk
with the president. Baron Komura, he
said, had desired to pay his respects to
President Roosevelt, and on behalf of the
emperor, to thank him for his efforts to
bring about peace In the far east. This
mission had been accomplished. In re-
| sponse to inquiries, Minister Takahira
said 1t might be inferred that they dis
! cussed sthe pending peace negotiations. but
added: 1T would not be proper for me
to give to you the nature of the discussion.
l could not do that"
President Roosevelt, when asked this
evening about the conference replied that
! It was a subject which he did not feel at
liberty to discuss for publication. 1t is ex-
pected that soon after the arrival of NJ.
wttee. the principal envoy of Russia, he
| too. will make a formal call on President
Roosevelt in advance of the presentation
! to the president on August of the two
sets of plenipotentiaries and their suites
| The president does not conceal his deep In
| terest in the approaching conference of the
! envoys. but let's It be understood that his
interest will not lead him to interfere, even
| by indirection, with the work of the con-
| ferees. He had hoped that an early arms-
tice might be arranged between the con-
tending armies In Manchuria, pending the
conclusion of the work Of the conferees.
Itinerary of the Enjoys.
WASHINGTON, July H.--Arrangements
| were completed here today for conveying
the peace envoys of Russia and Japan from
New York to Oyster Bay, where they will
be received by the president, and from
there to Portsmouth, N. H. According to
the Official announcement, the Russian
plenipotentiaries and suite will embark on
the cruiser Chattanooga, commanded by
Commander Sharp, at the foot of Twenty
| third street, New York City at a. m. on
August 8. the Japanese plenipotentiaries
enbarking at the same point on the cruiser
| Tacoma, commanded by Commander r. +.
Nicholson. an hour later, arriving at Oyster
Bay within half an hour of one another.
After the luncheon to be given by the
president on the Mayfiower is over and the
president has departed, the Japanese pleni-
potentaries and suite will embark on the
Dolphin, commanded by Commander Glib
bons, the Russian plenipotentiaries and
suite remaining on the Mayfiower when
they will proceed to Portsmouth, conveyed
by the cruiser Galveston, commanded by
Commander w G. Cutler, which will arrive
off oyster Be on the evening of August 4
slow run north will be made so that
Portsmouth will he reached on the morning
of the 7th, where they will be received by
the admir'.I commanding the Portsmouth
navy yaru, within which the negotiations
for peace are to be conducted.
Rear Admiral Sigsbee, to whose squadron
the Tacoma, Chattanooga and Galveston
are attached, returned to New York today
and will issue the necessary orders to carry
into effect the program announced. Com.
mander winslow also returned to New
York and on Monday expects to take tn,
Mayfower outside for a shaking down
trip.
Talking of Demands.
As a clearer idea is gained Of Japan.
peace terms. whose general character wal
outlined I'm the Associated Press dispatches
last night the skepticism with which Wash
ington received the European reports tina
the Japanese would demand the neutraliza
tlon of Vladivostok is lessened. In fact 4
: is learned that not only is this likely I,
I constitute one Of the Japanese demands
but It will be accompanied by a startling
counter proposal In effect. according to ,
, seemingly we'll informed source. Japan will
propose in return for the naturalization o
. this last Russian port on the Pacific not L
2 fortify Port Arthur Should this informa
] tion prove correct II will entirely chang
! the view which has prevailed in officia
2 circles that the question of Vladivostok'
$ naturalization could not reasonably b
3 made a part of Japan's peace price II 1
e pointed out that while the war has demon
strated that Port Arthur was a militar-
blunder, nevertheless this great fortihcatio
: constitutes a tremendous political infiuenc
: in the far eastern question and its abandon
$ ment as a stronghold is a concession o
y such magnitude that It is not felt Russi
e can refuse TO meet IT,
: on the other hand, Japan's sacrihc
I would not be as great It seems at frs
I glance. because its fertilization of tn
= Straits OF Corea would offset the loss O
g Port Arthur as strategic point. It is be
u neved here that the question Of VladIvo
e stok will prove to be one OF the most din
5 cult which the conference will face, a
Russia has not concealed its disinclinatio
d to permit II to enter into the negotiation,
e In this connection an interesting story
q current in diplomatic circles regarding IN
h selection OF Baron Komura as Japan
?, principal plenipotentiary.
KOmura's Rum0red Ideas
According 20 this story Japan had hardl
less trouble than did Russia in finding a
oficial willing to undertake this delicat
!, mission. Baron KomuTa was finally il
, duced to accept IL with the stipulation ths
before the conference assembled the 10