Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-06-15
THE DAWN
OF PEACE
JAPAN AND RUSSIA ARE
READY TO NEGOTIATE
TERMS.
NOW THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE SEE
THE PROSPECT OF BETTER
CONDITIONS.
BOTH POWERS ACCEPT NOTE OF
ROOSEVELT AND THANK HIM.

Formal and entirely satisfactory
replies have been received from Rus
STA and Japan to the presidents iden-
teal note urging them to conclude
peace by direct negotiations. The
two powers are ready TO appoint their
plenipotentiaries and the only ques-
tions as to the preliminaries is how
the commissioners shall be brought
together and where they will meet.
Exchanges on this point are going on
between Washington, Toxic and st.
Petersburg and it is expected that the
decision will be announced soon after
President Roosevelt returns from Vir-
ginia and that an armistice will fol-
low Immediately. So far the presi-
dent has not been asked 10 act as an
intermediary in bringing the plenipo-
tertiary together, and the indications
are that the date and place Of their
meeting will be arranged by the two
governments.
1t is considered improbable that Mr..
Roosevelt will be called upon TO fur
Their exercise his good Offices, though
it is altogether likely that he will be
the avenue through which the two
powers will inform each other of the
| appointment OF their peace commits
| sioners and arrange their meeting
place. In diplomatic circles there is
decided belief that the terms of
peace will be arranged on the battle
| field in Manchuria. There they would
be on practically neutral territory and
far removed from any influence that
| the powers might secretly try to eX-
apt 'hnr Fla.,,s la IL a
rect communication with their gov
| ernments over telegraph lines con-
| trolled by the two governments, so the
| negotiations could be well guarded.
All of the diplomats believe the war
Is over. While the possibility of a
hitch even after the negotiations are
well under way, is admitted, they do
not think the differences as TO the
! final terms will reach point where
| hostilities will be resumed. The
| spirit in which Russia accepted the
| outline of Japan's terms, which was
laid down as the basis for formal ne
| gotiations, is accepted as proof of the
cars desire to end the war, and also
his belief that peace can be restored
without working any humiliation or
any great hardship to Russia Imme-
diately following the publication of
| the presidents Eote II was announced
! from st. Petersburg In a statement
apparently inspired, that Russia was
| ready to name her plenipotentiaries
| as soon as Japan seIected hers.
The announcement of the p:esi.
dents success in bringing the warning
nations together was a surprise TO
| practically all foreign diplomats.
Without any knowledge of the details
they knew that the president was
seeking to effect an amicable under
standing that would end the war. but
they expected that the preliminary
negotiations would drag along for
days and probably for weeks. They
were wholly unprepared for such
prompt results.
The Japanese minister was out.
spoken with regard to the move
made by the president He said: 1T
Is the most admirable piece of states.
manship | have ever. seen. II Is en-
tirely based Jpon the noble idea of
humanity and civilization. 1t will be
regarded as the beacon light of the
civilized world to be followed in in.
ternational transactions, and am
sure that the suggestion made in that
manner by the president will be
promptly accepted by Japan"
The Russian government has com.
municated 10 the administration at
Washington its assent to the publica.
ton OF Russia's reply to President
Roosevelts appeal, at the same time
thanking him warmly for the friendly
and lofty spirit in which it was con
ceived.
The Russian experiment in parlia
mentism will begin in September. The
pmpprOr has alraady bic