Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-06-15
Washington LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Junl


President Roosevelt has startled the
diplomatic world BY his frank identical
note to Russia and Japan il which he
expresses, in terms regarded as extraor-
dinarily forceful FIR the language Of diplo-
macy, his urgent desire that peace between
the beligerants may be speedily accom-
pllshed. 1t is generally assumed that the
President, as a result of his extensive COM
munications with both the Gar aud the
Mikado, conducted through the United
States Ambassador to ST. Petersburg and
the japanese Minister to Washington, was
assured that such an appeal would be well
coined by both nations. In fact no other
hypothesis would account for the pubica-
tion Of the precise language Of the appeal
The President feels that the time has
come when in the interest of all mankind
be must endeavor to see if it is not possible
to bring to an end the terrible and lamen-
table conflict now being waged, ;, says the
President, and further along he says, THE
President accordingly urges the Russian
and japanese Governments not only for
their own sakes, but in the interest Of the
whole civilized world, to open direct nego-
tiations for peace with one another. While
the note is not exceptionally emphatic for
the President, II is remarked that in diplo-
matte parlance the expression urge is
particularly strong, and would ordinarily
be replaced by such an expression as hopes
for etc
The effort Of the President to secure di-
rect negotiations rather than further to act
as intermediary, will prove relief to many
who have watched the negotiations with no
little anxiety fearing that Japan at least
would look to the United States to insure
good faith on the part Of Russia, an insur-
ance which the President would assuredly
be powerless to give, especially without the
sanction of Congress. If the belligerents
act upon the Presidents appeal, there will
undeniably be added another triumph to
the administration Of Theodore Roosevelt.
Che Moroccan situation is beginning to
attract considerable attention, although
somewhat ovelshadowed by the peace
negotiations. Germany has issued an
invitation to all the powers signatory to
the Convention of Madrid, negotiated in
1880, TO attend an international conference
to take steps to preserve the open door in
Morocco, and as the United States signed
that convention, it is invited to the new
conference. Moreover it is intirnated that
President Roosevelt intends to send
representative to this conference, although
by so doing be would run the risk Of seri-
ously offending both Great Britain and
France, especially the latter. Ii will be
remembered that France and Great Britain
negotiated treaty whereby the former
guaranteed the open door in Morocco for
thirty years. aud when the treaty had been
duly signed, its contents were communi-
Gated to Germany. Immediately, or almost
so, Emperor William made. his plans to go
to the Mediterranean and touch at Morocco.
While there, or soon after ne had been
there, and as a supposed sequel to his visit,
the Sultan rejected the proposals Of the
French Foreign Minister, NJ Deleasse.
Now the Emperor calls an international
conference to undo the work Of France and
Great Britain, and do it over again along
lines that will give Germany hand in the
affair. With all this the United States IS.
Of course, little concerned, but it is a mat
ter of regret TO conservative statesmen that
the President should entangle this country
in the affair The plea on which the Pres
ident will act will be the protection OF the
foreign trade interests of this country. but
as the United States sold to Morocco during
the last fiscal year less than ST 600 worth OF
goods, the plea is obviously somewhat
specious
Considerable interest is manifested in
what is termed here the peaceful revolution
Of Norway against the rule of Sweden
The particular interest which attaches in
Washington being due TO the fact that it
has resulted in the return Of Minister Grip
who was popular in the national capitol
Minister Grip is Norwegian, and will, it
is supposed, resign from the diplomatic
service Of Sweden when he returns to the
Swedish capital. The outcome Of the
revolution is also looked for with interest.
especially as it seems possible that Norway
may establish a republic following the lines
Of the United States bus it is hoped with
some modern Improvements.
Arrangements are practically complete for
the trip Of Secretary Taft to the Philippines
and it is regarded as noteworthy that few
members Of Congress Of any particular
standing, especially in the Republican
party, will make the journey. There are a
few Of the more prominent Democrats, but
the leading Republicans in both houses of