The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-16
To Confer in Washington.

After rejecting Paris. Chefoo, Gen.
eva. and The Hague, the warning
powers Of the far Orient have decid-
ed to conduct their peace negotiations
in Washington. This decision is sig
nificant of many things, especially for
the people Of Washington.
It is, first, a demonstration, not Of
the wisdom alone, but of the success,
of the Administrations neutral
course throughout the hostilities in
Manchuria. The people of America
have not been neutral. Their SYM
pathy has all been with Japan-the
exceptions merely pointing to the
practical unanimity of American
thought. It might have been better
If this sympathy had at times been
more mildly expressed Russia has
long looked on this country as her
friend, she is supposed to have proven
her friendship in works, and the
United States has recognized the re-
lationship Of friends by succor to the
Russian people in time Of famine.
But however much the citizens of our
country have stood with the one side
and against the other, the Admins
tration has so borne itself that In
the critical event of locating the con-
ference Russia found the American
Capital entirely acceptable. That
Paris and Chefoo should have been
rejected will surprise no one. but
Geneva and perhaps The Hague are
In another category. Japan feared
the influence IA those two cities of
European politics and 1t is, to repeat,
fine tribute to the present Admin
istratiOn OF the American govern
ment that Russia did not object to.
Washington as similarly predisposed
against her.
The second significant aspect of
this decision lies in the fact that 1t
poises the United States impartially
between the so-called concert" of
Europe and the correspondingly So
called yellow Peril" There is about
as much danger to fear a concert"
between half a dozen powers which
antagonize each other at every op-
portunity as there is to fear an In
undation OF the rest OF the earth by
people weakened In war, crippled In
trade for the time being at least,
and to the extent Of 400, 000, 900 q life
less mass. Whether the powers of
Europe are In concert or discord,
however. and the rest of the world
In peril of the Asiatic, or not, it is
still true that. save for America and
Great Britain, every great nation be-
longs with the one group or the otk-
er- And this selection of Washing
ton, with London excluded as the
capital OF an ally to one of the COM
batants. signifies that America is pre-
emfnently the great neutral.
The third significance will be found
In the heightened prestige of America
as diplomatic force Secretary Hay
mas contributed more, probably. to
raise his country to post of diplo-
matte power than any other American.
and this event is only another link in
a long chain. But 1t is the most inn
portant link. also, and it was manu.
1actured not so much by the fine pro-
cess OF diplomatic firing in kilns as
by the ruder means OF welding on an
anvil out in the open where all the
; world might see. The effect of this
prestige will surely be to expand our
trade and ease the ways of Yankee
commerce throughout the world.
The fourth Specification Is that this
conference will bring to US for our
stucy and observation here in Wash
1ngton a group Of genuinely great
men. Their proceedings will be
fraught with grave importance. The
conference will be assuredly the most
important diplomatic negotiation of
modern times. It is something To no
the capital OF a great commercial
power. but it Is something quite as
desirable to be the capital OF a great
power for peace among nations, and
don Of Washington for these meetings
puts upon our city. 1t will, In all
probability, lead to many other meet
ings OF similar character. although
hardly OF equal import.
Finally, 1t is significant to US all
Russians, Japanese, Americans and
everybody else-that the honest, man
ly effort Of third nation to end
strife between two of its neighbors
has been rewarded with success. The
American Presidents course has been
% disinteresfed, SO generous, SO
humane, and, above all. SO impartial,
that had he not succeeded the cause
Of straightferwardness IN diplomacy
might have suffered a severe setback.
That happening would never have
disheartened either the President or
the people OF the United States, but 1t
would have postponed. to the worlds
great disadvantage, its progress to-