The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-07
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS.

The peace nag has leaped another
hurdle in the appointment of the Jap
anese and Russian commissioners. ia
pan has named her minister of foreign
affairs and her minister to this coun-
try. Russia has nominated her former
minister of justice and ner ambassador
to this country. The question of the
equal rank of the commissioners, which
troubled both countries for a while,
has probably been amicably settled.
Muravieff, while at present not hold
been, and may be again, the cars most
trsted minister. Another question
which appeals to this country as of
far greater Importance than that of
rank has been settled also. This is
the question of the powers of the COM
missioners. Russia's original reply to
the presidents appeal was an accept
ance of it lin principle The form
of the acceptance seemed to be vague
and the president has made every eff
fort to clarity the point to the salts
faction of Japan.
The latter objected to going into a
conference in which she would be call
ed upon to state her terms and then
might find she was dealing with per-
sons who had not sufficient powers to
go ahead. The Russian commissioners
would be too much in the situation of
woman on a shopping tour without
money to buy with. They might in
quire prices, but could not do business.
Japan wanted to deal with men who
had power to settle up the business.
In this she was backed by President
Roosevelt, and his publication of the
names of the ENJOYS is taken as
guaranty that this objection of Japan
has been overcome.
The Russians appear to have yielded
gracefully all along the line. They
gave up the Hague and took Washing
ton as the place of conference; they
have named commissioners with pow
ers and they nave put forward men
who are not predominantly known by
the traditional Muscovite idea of di-
plomacy. Baron Rosen was Of the
antiwar party in Russia. AS minister
to Japan he strove earnestly to con-
vince his government that Japan was
in earnest and that war would surely
follow any lack of sincerity in Russia's
negotiations.
In the face of his warnings Nicholas
allowed himself to be swayed by the
incompetent Alexieff, who from Port
Arthur was constantly crossing wires
with Rosen in assurances to the car
that he had but to stand firm and ia
pan would back down. Baron Rosen
went nome in something like disgrace.
but his subsequent appointment to this
country and his newer nomination as
a peace commissioner shows that the
car has learned to know at least one
honest adviser.
OF Count Muravieff less is known in
this country. He comes from a dis
tinguished Russian family which has
held high civil and military office for
generations. One of his ancestors had
the honor of negotiating a treaty with
Japan in 1858, a treaty which was Of
great advantage to his country. He
was acting chairman of The Hague
tribunal when Minister Bowen took the
Venezuelan matter before it. He made
the ruling that blockading powers
should have a preference over those
which mad made no demonstration Of
force in the collection of debts from
Castro. The decision was directly op-
posed to the interests of France, Rus
sias ally, so it would seem as though
the new peace commissioner is a man
of independence.
No date is fixed for the conference.
but It will probably assemble infor-
| mally in Washington in about a month.