The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-06
THE ENVOYS
 ARE RECEIVED History Made Aboard the Yacht Mayflower. AN IMPRESSIVE OCCASION Wonderful Tact Displayed by
 President. Enthusiastic Comments Heard from Members of the Peace Mis-
 sion Regarding Notable
 Toast Proposed.
AN IMPRESSIVE OCCASION

Oyster Bay, Aug. 5.-History was made today in Oyster Bay. Russians and Japanese clasped hands and greeted one another with all outward evidence of cordiality and for the first time since nations began to have relations. one with another. an executive of a great power received the envoys of two bel ligerent countries on a mission of peace
 President Roosevelt, on behalf of the United States and Its people. extended formal greetings to the representatives of Russia and Japan, introduced the plenipotentiaries to one another and en- tertained them at an elaborate lunch con, at which Russians and Japanese fraternized with one another as com rades rather than enemies.
 During the luncheon. President Roosevelt proposed notable toast, in which he expressed the earnest hope and prayer in the interest, not only of these two great powers. but of all civil ized mankind, that a just and lasting peace may speedily be concluded be- tween them. The occasion was impress sive. It was attended, not by pomp and ceremony. but by simplicity and frankness characteristic of the Presi- dent and the people of America. Due honor was paid the distinguished guests of the President and of the country, and they were received with all the dignity to which their exalted rank en- titled them.
 The day was ideal The handsome war yacht Mayiower. one of the most beautiful vessels of the United States navy, on which the formal reception of the Russian and Japanese envoys took place, swung easily at anchor just at the entrance of Oyster Bay from Long Island Sound. A quarter of a mile away was the dispatch boat Dolphin. the favorite cruising vessel of several Presidents of the United States. Two miles out in the sound the cruiser Gai- weston was anchored in waiting to con- voy the vessels bearing the envoys to the seat of the Washington peace con ference at Portsmouth, N. H.
 A Buffet Affair.
 Tn order that no question of prece- dence should rise. it was determined that the luncheon should be buffet function. In this way 1t was avoided the necessity of seating the envoys at the table with the President,
 Major-General F. D. Grant. cofnnan- der of the East, and Rear Admiral J. B. Coghlan, commandant of the. Brook iyn Navy Yard respectively, the repre-" sentatives of the army and the navy at the reception, went aboard the May flower at 11:50 a. m.
 President Roosevelt was expected to board the Mayfiower at 1 o'clock, but this morning he changed the plans and indicated his intention to come aboard at noon or shortly thereafter. In &C., cordance with this arrangement launch from the vessel was sent to the west Roosevelt pier for him at 11:3o o'clock.
 As the launch bearing the President and flying his pennant at her fore passed under the stern of the Dolphin, the crew of that vessel dressed ship and the trumpeters sounded fanfare.
 As President Roosevelt stepped on the gangway to ascend to the deck Of the Mayfower, the first gun of the Presidential salute boomed its welcome and the beautiful Presidential pennant of blue and gold was broken out at the masthead. The President was greeted by Commander Winslow as he reached the deck. The President greeted cor dially General Grant and Rear Admir- als Coghlan and Sigsbee.
 Meantime the cruiser Tacoma, with the Japanese envoys and their suite on board, had arrived from New York. making the run in two hours and three quarters The ship came to anchor at f2:30 o'clock about half a mile from the Mayfower. Almost at the same time the naval yacht Syiph. with Third Assistant Secretary of State Pierce on board, came to anchor a short distance from the Mayfiower. pr. Pierce. who in the absence of Secretary Root, was to represent the Department of State at the ceremonies, boarded the Mayffower about ten minutes after the arrival of the President. He and the President chatted a few minutes before 1t was reported that the Japanese envoys were A bout to come aboard the Mayflower.
 Scarcely had the report been made before the guns of the Tacoma began to fire their salute of nineteen guns. as the pIenipotentiaries and their suite went over the side.
 Received by WlnaIOw.
 At the head of the gangway. Com mander Winslow received the Japanese envoys They were escorted immedi- ately to the cabin where the President was awaiting them. Their reception was brief and was as devoid of formal ity as the nature of the occasion would permit. No set addresses were deliv- cred.
 Baron Komura presented to the Pres ident the twelve members of his suite.
 The President then introduced the enyoys to the army and naval officers present, after which with Baron Ko- mura and Minister Takahira he retired to an inside cabin for brief consulta- ton prior to the arrival of the Russian TnlBSIOns envoys on board anchored a third of a mile from the Mayfiower at .05 D. m and fifteen minutes later the Chattanooga's nineteen guns salute am nounced the departure of tho Russians. A few minutes afterward the form of M. Witte, Russia's chief plenipotentiary appeared at the starboard gangway of the Maydower. He was followed by Baron Rosen, the Russian Ambassador and second peace envoy. and eight members of his suite. They were re- peived precisely as the Japanese had been and they, too, were ushered into the cabin where the President was in waiting to receive them.
 During the reception of the Russian mission the Japanese envoys and the members of their suite were in one of the forward cabins.
 With notable cordiality President Roosevelt shook hands with M. Witte and Baron Rosen, exchanging with them informal but hearty personal After receiving the mem hers of the suite and presenting all in turn to his Presidential guests. the President then brought the two sets of envoys together, introducing them for maIIy to one another.
 It was a notable scene as the diminu-