The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-08
nv A ssnniated Pressl.

WASHINGTON, Juno Preliminary
peace negotiations between Russia ana
Japan are generally believed to be under
way, and 1t is conceded that President
Roosevelt will in all probability act not
as mediator, but as "the friendly chan- +
mel of communication" Y a.
There Is as yet no official Omission
THAT Russia has accepted what Count
ECasslni. In his cablegram$ to Count {
~ sffsdorff last week; Fdescrfbed sas the
offer of good will OF the Presid lent" al
though Instructions to the nmbn ssador
arc believed to have reached here late
tonight In long y cablegram re-
ceived at the Russian embassy quite
late, and which was laid before the
ambassador after he had started to re-
tire. After reading the dispatch, the
ambassador retired for the night at an
hour earlier than usual. All that can
he authorltatlvely said regarding this
cablegram Is that u 1t concerned Count
Cassni's cablegram of last week
Immediately upon his return TO MS
#lega ton tonight, after a long ctOfer-
ence with the President, Mr.. Takahira.
the Japanese minister, began the prep.
aration Of dispatch to his government,
upon which he was occupied until quite
late. At the White House up to late \
hour, it was declared that the import
ant cablegram from Mr.. Meyer had not ]
yet reached here. s
Takahira atWhite House.
Diplomatic Washington was tonight
aroused to a point of expectancy us-
.enualled since the inception OF the var
In the Far East. by the news from 81.
Petersburg Of the Cars wish to know
Japan's peace terms. This interest was
.heirhtened by a call which Mr.. Takahirn,
the Japanese minister made at the
White House by appointment during the
evening. Hc called shortly after
o'clock, and Immediately went into con-
ference with the President. They re-
mained together about twenty minutes.
When the minister left. he declined to
answer questions about his call.
4 The Associated Press bulletin nnnounc-
Ing the cabling OF message to the Rus
Sian ambassadors at Washington and :.
Paris that Russia wished to know ia
pants peace terms was Immediately conl-
municated to the diplomats most inter-.
ested, It was not long before the Rus
sian embassy was bescged with callers.
but the ambassador was without adylces
on the subject. The President had con-
flded to an ambassador who called at
tho White House that he expected Ans.
bassador Meyer to be received at Tsars-
koe Sclo to-day or tomorrow. The In
structions to Mr.. Meyer did not provide
for formal tender of good offices.
While 1t is impossible to give their text.
they may be correctly paraphrased IN
these words: @
Find out from tho Gear what we can
do to assist an early peace
Much WAS left to the tact and dlplo-
matte discretion OF Mr.. Meyer as to the
manner and words In which the friendly
readiness OF this government at the pres
cnt moment should be made known TO
the CZar, Care was also taken that Mr.
Meyers conference with the Gear should
not occur until Count Casslni's report
had reached Tsarskoe Selo. 1t can be
stated very emphatically that in trans
hitting a faithful report OF what oc-
Cured at the White House last Friday
afternoon, Count Cassini emphasized the
sympathetic and friendly frankness with
which the President speaking inforral-
ly and personally. expressed his strong
desire for peace
What Diplomats Think.
Contact" remarked European ans
bassado rto-,light, "is what the Presl-
dent has been endeavorng to establish
between Russia and Japan, To do this
1t was necessary to obtain from one
slide or the other some expression favor
able to peace. Japan has refrained ab-
solutely from giving any indication as TO Il
whit her terms would be, on the ground
that this would he interpreted by RUS
sta as a sign of weakness"
Whether upon receiving from Count
Cass,ni an official expression that the
Cars wishes to know the alikado's
peace terms tho President Will be able
10 obtain statement on this subject
from Japan remains 10 be seen. piplo.
mats however. recall tho statement OF
Mr. Takahlra some days age 70 ths
effect that when Russia really wanted 20 s
know Japans terms, she could easily
fnd them out without communicating d. 4
rctly with Toxic, II Is declared on good
authority that thus far no circular note
s'''''7, ,n,,ad u, eha AD1aric1H am