Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-25
THE CRISIS IS NEAR.
The President Working Disinterested'y
to Avert Failure.


in the peace negotiations is approach
ing rapidly. Whether there is TO DC
reace between Russia and Japan or a
continuance of the war, will be deter
mined very likely within a few days.
Since he made his direct appeal to
Emperor Nicholas. President Roose-
welt has been awaiting developments.
hopeful that such efforts as he has felt
proper to make to avert failure OF
the Washington conference might not
be futile. Today, those developments
began to appear. a report from Ambas-
sador Meyer at ST. Petersburg. of his
audience with Emperor Nicholas. yes
terday, was received and in addition
some important advices from Ports
mouth reached the President They
were regarded as so urgent that as
soon as they were received in the eX-
ecutive Office in the village, they We're
carried to Sycamore Hill by a trust
ed executive clerk.
The utmost secrecy is manifested re-
sardlng the communications, not the
slightest intimation of the nature OF
their contents being permitted TO be-
come public.
1t is quite certain now that in addi-
ton TO making a direct appeal to the
Russian Emneror to take such meas
ures as may bring the pending negotia-
tons 10 a successful issue. President
Roosevelt has communicated with the
japanese government along similar
| lines Whether that appeal was made
directly to the Emperor of Japan as IN
| the case of Emperor Nicholas. cannot
| be ascertained. as nc official conflrma-
| ton is given Of the statement that sub
a communication has been forwarded.
An impression is likely to be Great
| ed by some recent reports of the Pres
| ident's activity in the peace proceed
| inGs that he is eXerting the powerful
| influences he yields to force the en-
| voys into some sort of agreement. No
such impression is warranted by the
| efforts he has made. From the incip-
| icncy OF the negotiations, the President
| has been actuated by q motive of the
| sincercst friendship for both Of the
| bclligerents, and by a desire to do all
| that in him lies to terminate a conflict
so sanguinary that it has shocked the
entire civilized world. In the indentical
| note which he directed to the ST. Pc
| tersburg and Toxic governments he
expressed the hope that their repre-
| scntatives might come together and
settle their differences themselves.
Since the ENJOYS assembled in Ameri-
ca in an effort to carry out the Pres
| ident's suggestion. he has followed in
| spirit and in principle the ideas he
| enumerated in his identical note.
In the negotiations preliminary to the
conference. the President acted in the
capacity Of an intermediary between
Russia and Japan. When the plenipo-
tentiarts arrived in America and were
received formally by the President. he
assured them that they would be free
a absolutely from interference in their
deliberations. He made il clear to them
at the same time that if he could be
Of any assistance to them in the ac-
| Conplishment of their great mission
that assistance would be extended
gladly in any proper effort to resolve
the differences.
The Presidents offer was appreciated
to the fullest by the conferees. and lat
er they availed themselves of it. Moved
by profound desire to restore peace,
| the President has lent his good office
to the representatives of both of the
warning bowers. but he has refrained
from any effort which might be re-
garded as offensive either by Russia or
i Papan. He has maintained his posi-
ton as an intermediary. making sug-
gestions when suggestions were re-
quested and giving counsel when 1T was
sought.
| Impressed by the belief that an
| agreement can be reached by the en-
voys after full discussion and thorough
| consideration of all phases Of the ques-
ton at issue. President Roosevelt final
ly has appealed for peace to the st. Pc
tershurg and Toxic governments, COM
muricating his appeals simultaneously
to the ENJOYS themselves. Such sugges-
tons as he has offered and such propo-
sitions as he has made were for the
consideration Of the plenipotentiaries
| and were presented with a View to ia
| cliltating their labors.
| 1t Is known that both the Russian
and japanese governments appreciate
the disinterested friendship Of the
President and that both have expressed
their appreciation Of his efforts to in
sure "a lasting and honorable peace"