The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-06-21
PEACE CONFERENCE
IS DECIDED UPON.
Washington Chosen as the
Meeting Place.
TO MEET in AUGUST.
Russia Wanted Conference Held In Paris
But Japan Declined to Meet at any
European Capital.

European Capital.
Americas national capital has been
selected as the seat of negotiations be-
tween the plenipotentiaries of Russia
and Japan for treaty of peace. The
choice of Washington as the location of
the peace conference marks another
forward step in the negotiations toward
ultimate peace in the far east instituted
by President Roosevelt.
Official announcement of the selec-
tion of Washington was made at the
White House as follows:
when the two governments were
unable to agree upon either Chefoo or
Paris, the president suggested The
Hague but both governments have now
requested that Washington be chosen as
the place of meeting and the president
has accordingly notified both govern
ments that Washington will be Sc
lected"
This statement was supplemented
shortly afterward by semi-official an
nouncement that latter meeting and
organizing the plenipotentiaries of the
two governments, if it should be found
uncomfortably hot in Washington, may
adjourn the meeting to some summer
resort in the north and there continue
their sittings until such time as the
weather in Washington shall be more
comfortable.
Now that some of the details of the
negotiations, which have been pending
for more than two weeks are known,
the selection of Washington is regarded
as the only logical solution of the pro-
blem presented to the belligerent gov
ernments. After the acceptance by
Russia and Japan of President Roose-
velt's proposition that they consent to
consider the question of peace, Russia
indicated Paris as the most desirable
place for the meeting to negotiate a
treaty and Japan indicated Chefoo. -
There the subject rested for 4S hours
Finally, Japan declined to consider
Paris, for obvious reasons, and Russia
objected to the holding of the confer
ence in an oriental city. Washington
then was suggested as place at which
the belligerents could meet on common
ground, undisturbed by either political
or personal influences. AS means of
facilitating the negotiations, the presi-
dent suggested that the conference be
held at The Hague, the seat of the in
ternational arbitration tribunal and the
location of the first general arbitration
conference called at the instance of
Emperor Nicholas of Russia. He indi-
Gated that for both practical and senti-
mental reasons, The Hague would be a
most desirable place of meeting for the
plenipotentiaries. Further considera-
tion of the subject developed the
practically unalterable objection of ia
pan to any European capital as seat
for the conference. She objected par.
ticularly to The Hague, believing that
it was too far within the sphere of
Russian influence; and for similar rea-
son she declined to consider Geneva.
Until today, however, Japan's irrecon-
cilable opposition to the selection of
any European capital was not known de-
finitely.
In view of the selection of the seat
of the conference it is expected that
within few days at most, Russia and
Japan will announce formally the names
of their respective plenipotentiaries. 1t
is deemed likely, also, that coincident-
ally with the announcement of the
plenipotentiaries an agreement will be
reached as to the time of holding the
conference. In view of the distances,
especially from Japan, it seems pro-
pable that the negotiators will not
meet before the middle of August or
first of September.
Prior to the formal assembling of
the conference, it is possible, if pre-
cedent be followed, that peace proto-
col will be negotiated. The making of
the protocol will take place before the
declaration of formal armistice. The
negotiations regarding it probably will
be conducted in Washington and it is
regarded as likely that the respective
diplomatic representatives of the bel
ligerents here will sign the document