Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-08-30
NEWS AZ sAcAMoRE HILL.
Announcement of Peace Settlement
a Surprise to President.

a Surprise to President.
OYSTER BAY, N. Y, Aug. 30.-In
his library at Sycamore Hill President
Roosevelt received the official an
nouncement that the Russian and Jap
anese plenipotentiaries at Portsmouth
had reached an agreement and would
proceed at once to conclude the terms
of a treaty of peace.
The announcement was unexpected.
The president at no time during the ne
gotiations pending had abandoned hope
of a successful issue of the Washing
ton conference, but he had realized
more clearly than any other one man
in the world the enormous difficulties
which confronted the ENJOYS in their
deliberations. While he had not for q
moment relaxed his earnest efforts to
induce the conferees to continue their
discussions with a view to securing a
basis of agreement. he had felt for for
ty-eight hours that the task he had set
for himself in the interest of humanity
and civilization was well nigh hope
less.
The presidents final appeals to st.
Petersburg and to Tokyo had been
made. No response had been received
from the orient, but from Peterhof
palace had come in Emperor Nicholas
own words Russia's ultimatum, mot
a kopeck Of ~indeSSSaity, not verst Of
territory"
The situation looked black indeeGA
The president, however, did not de-
spair. With the final terms of the Jap
anese government, as soon as they
should be received from Japan's en-
peror, he had determined to seek the
aid Of Emperor William of Germany
in support of his proposition that the
warning powers submit their points of
difference to the arbitrament of an i'm
partial tribunal. Arbitration In n
form or in another had been the presi-
dents solution of the difficulty eve
since the differences, seemingly irre-
c%oncilable by the ENJOYS, had arisen.
To this proposition Japan had acceded.
With the powerful influence of the
German emperor at Peterhof enlisted it
was hoped that the ground of objection
might be cut from beneath the feet Of
Emperor Nicholas. This was to be
President Roosevelt's supreme effort to
insure " a just and lasting peace"
The presidents thought of this final
appeal was interrupted by the Jingle Of
the bell of the telephone oil his library
desk. Mr.. Loeb, secretary to the pres
ident, who was engaged with him at
the moment in work on the peace ne
%gotiations, answered the call.
"WhatT" he eagerly inquired as the
message was given him.
The message was repeated.
He manifested so much excitement
and incredulity that the president in
quired, "What is it?"
at is announced in an official bulle-
tin from Portsmouth, replied Score
tary Loeb, that the plenipotentiaries
have agreed on all points of difference
and will proceed at once to negotiate a
treaty Of peace"
''That is fine-splendid!' exclaimed
the president. But as a doubt pass
ed through his mind, "do you think it
is authentic 2"
at is a perfectly definite statement"
Mr.. Loeb responded.
Good, good!" the president declared.
The joyful tidings spread as by an
electric impulse through the Roosevelt
household. The president did not con-
ceal his profound qualification at the
successful issue of the Washington
conference, the initiative of which had
come from him, and his feeling of salts
faction at the outcome permeated the
entire encourage of Sycamore Hill. 1t
was a joyful family party that assem-
bled a few minutes afterward AROUND
the hospitable board Of President
Roosevelt.
While the president did not seek to
conceal his profound qualification that
the conference has reached an agree
ment, he said he felt obliged in the cir
cumstances to refrain from any formal
expression regarding the work accom-
plished until he should have been in
formed fully as to the details.
1t is regarded here as likely that the
first important work of the conference,
now that a general agreement has been
reached on the main points of differ
ence, will be the framing Of a protocol
declaring an armistice and providing
for the return of prisoners. The nego-
t~iations of a permanent treaty of
peace. a subject of grave concern to
both powers and to the civilized world
generally, will be watched with pro-
found interest.
At the conclusion of their labors in
the Washington conference the plenipo-
tentiaries of both Russia and Japan
will be received by President Roose-
welt either at Sagamore Hill or at the
White House. AT that reception there
probably will be some notable utter
ances.
Throughout the late afternoon and
evening messages of congratulation by
the score poured in upon the president
from people both in America and in
Europe. The great part he has played
In bringing about the success of the
Onfapnnra md In nr.onnfiu~ the inter-