Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-06-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

not to close, at least to perlod
the peace negotiations which have 70
the past week had their center in Wash
ingtnn by addressing to Russia and JapaI
duplicate note in which he appeals t.
both belIiger'''its to bring to close th'
"terribIe -. lamentable conflict nov
waged." 1t is generally believed tina
the President did not take this step with
out first ascertaining that it would prove
acceptable to both powers and it is gen
orally accepted as long stride in thu
direction of peace. Should peace be &C
complished as the direct result OF the in
itiatory steps which the President ha!
taken it will add one to the many
triumphs which have crowned his ad
ministration.
Summing up the general situation in
the light of the best information obtain
able. it may be said that following the
Presidents frank presentation of the
situation to the Russian Ambassador
which occurred a week ago, the Czal
finally sent for Ambassador Meyer, who
it will be remembered is the member oil
the Republican National Committee, from
Massachusetts, and a close friend of the
Presidents. Mr.. Meyer served his ap.
premiership in diplomacy at Rome where
he was Ambassador throughout the last
Administration. After his audience with
the Car the Ambassador cabled a full
account to the President, the character ol
communication having been as closely
withheld as possible. He made it clear,
however, that the Gar was still unwill.
ing to be placed in the position of suing
for peace, although he was grateful for
the Presidents friendly expressions and
intimated that he would be glad to know
something OF the peace terms which
Japan would demand.
~
After careful consideration of Ambas.
.ador Meyers dispatches, the President
sent for the japanese Minister, Kogoro
Takihira, who came Immediately to the
White House, desipte the fact that he
was obliged to leave sick bed to do 60
What the character of his interview with
the President was can only be surmised
but it is known that Japan still maintains
the position that she cannot define peace
terms until Russia has done more than
express mild interest in their character
The Mikado believes that the Car should
first frankly declare that he is ready te
make peace if Japan's terms are moderate
and that then, the President, or other
Intermediary, should secure from the
Gar an acceptance, at least in principle
of some of the conditions fundamental
to permanent peace. For instance,
Russia should, in the estimation OF Japan,
recognize the right of Japan to an indem'
nifty the property of the permanent
evacuation of Manchuria, the perman
ence of Japan's control of Corea, ETC.
This much accomplished protocol could
be signed and the actual amount of the
indemnity, the fate of Vladivostok, and
similar more specific questions could be
left for final settlement between the
principals. The Gar, on the other hand
maintains that it is extremely difficult
forhim to commit Russia to peace without
some appreciation of all that peace i'm
plies.
~
The rarest tact and diplomacy will be
required on the part of the President te
settle these differences and to, at the
same time, avoid making any entanglins
alliances. For instance, Japan, profitting
by the experience of her war with China
when the fruits of victory were wrested
from her by the Concert of Europe and
divided between Russia, Great Britain
France and Germany, is not unlikely to
ask President Roosevelt to guarantee, in
return for certain concessions by hel
that no European power, other than
Russia, shall attempt to dictate the ulti.
mate terms of peace, once Japan has
committed herself to the peace PROPOSE.
tion. 1t is also not a remote probability
that Great Britain will seek once more to
extend tie cordial relations which now
exist between this country and that by
some agreement closely approximating
that alliance between Great Britain and
the United States which Lord Mans.
downe has always regarded as exception.
ally desirous.
~
The Loomis-Bowen episode has almost
degenerated into farce. Minister Rus.
sell has arrived in Washington from
Bogota and when cross examined by Mr..
Bowen in the presence of Secretary Taft
was entirely unable to substantiate, ia
any particular, the changes of the Mini
ster. Minister Bowen has applied for in
struction to 60 to Venezuela to rake up
evidence against Secretary Loomis but it is
entirely unlikely that his request will re-
ceive favorable action as he has thus far
failed to prove the charges, which he
preferred against Mr.. Loomis. There is
one more witness to be examined after
which Minister Bowen will, it is gener-
ally believed, be relieved from further
service in the diplomatic crops of the
United States. While certain slight in
discretions on the part of Mr.. Loomis
have been shown there is no evidence
that he has done anything discreditable
and the prediction made in the letters
some time ago, that he will be made an
ambassador before the close of the
present administration still holds good.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 10th, 1905.
THE PHTIO SHERMAN BENNETT PRIZE