Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-06
After the Ceremony Luncheon is Served in
Cabin Of syHowen
THAT MAKES HISTORY
Formal Beginning of Conference that May
End a Great War.
CHIEF EXECUTIVES TACTFUL TOAST
He Proposed the Prosperity of Rulers
and Peoples of the Two Nations
and Success of the NeEo-
tiations for Peace.

OYSTER BAY. n. Y, Aug 5,-History
was made today in oyster Bay. Russians
and japanese claspcd hands and greeted
one another with. all outward evidence Of
cordiality and for the first time since ma
tions began to have relations one with an
other, an executive OF a great power re-
ceived the ENJOYS of two beligerent coun-
tries 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 plenipo-
tentiaries to one another and entertained
them at an elaborate luncheon, at which
Russians and Japanese fraternized with
one another as comrades rather than as
enemies.
During the luncheon President Roosevelt
proposed a notable toast in which he ex-
pressed the earnest hope and prayer in
the interest not only OF these two great
powers but Of all civilized mankind, that
a just and lasting peace may speedily be
concluded between them"
The occasion was impressive. 1t was at
tended, not by pomp and ceremony, but by
simplicity and frankness characteristic
Of the president and the people of Amer
lea
The handsome war yacht Mayfower one
Of the most beautiful vessels of the United
States navy, on which the formal recep-
ton of the Russian and Japanese pleni-
potentiaries took placce, 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 pres
idents of the United States. Two miles out
in the sound the cruiser Galveston was
anchored, in waiting to convoy the vessels
bearing the ENJOYS to the seat Of the Wash
ington peace conference at Portsmouth,
n. H.
The Mayhower is in command of Com
mander Cameron MGR. Winsow, President
Roosevelt's naval aide, who was detailed
to this duty as a special mark Of distinc-
tion to the peace commission by the presi-
dent.
| Before the arrival of the president and
the cnvoys the cabins Of the Mayflower
were handsomely decorated with flowers
The luncheon table in the main saloon was
laden with flowers. No attempt was made
to decorate the cabins of the vessel with
flags. care being exercised I'm every feature
of the ceremony attendant upon the recep-
! tion not in the slightest way to offend the
sensibilities of the guests of the occasion.
PFeCedentB Are Avoided.
In order that no question OF precedence
should arise, 1t was determined that the
luncheon should be a buffet function. II
this way was avoided the necessity of seat
ing the ENJOYS at table with the president
Major General Frederick d. Grant com
mander of the Department of the East, anC
Rear Admiral Joseph b. Coghlan, com
mandant of the Brooklyn navy yard, re
spectively the representatives of the army
and navy at the reception, went aboard tn,
Mayhower at 1850 a. m.
AS President Roosevelt stepped on tn
gangway a few minutes after the nool
hour TO ascend to the deck of the May
flower, the first gun of the presidential
salute of twenty-one guns doomed it's wei
come and the beautiful presidential pennan
of blue and gold was broken out at tn
masthead The president was, greeted b.
Commander Winslow as he reached tn
deck The band, after the sounding of fou
rufHes on the drums, played THE Sta
spangled Banner" The president greete
cordially General Grant and Rear Ad
mirals Coghlan and Sgsbee.
/ One after another the president person
ally greeted and shook hands with tn
officers of the ship.
Arrival of the Japs.
Meanwhile the cruiser Tacoma, with tn
Japanese ENJOYS and their suite on boarC
had arrived from New York, making tn
run in two hours and three-quarters. Th
, shin came 70 anchor. at T2:SO o'clock abou
half a mile from the Mayhower. Almos
at the same time the naval yacht Sylpl
with Third Assistant Secretary Of Stat
Herbert II. D. Peirce on board, also cam
TO anchor a short distance from the MAJ
: flower. Mr.. Peirce, who in the absence {
Secretary Root was to represent the d,
nartment of State at the ceremonies inc
dent to the reception, boarded the Ma!
Aower from a launch about ten minut,
after the arrival of the president. He an
the president chatted a few minutes b.
fore it was reported TO the president th'
, the japanese ENJOYS were about to con
aboard the Mayhower.
Scarcely had the report been made ths
the guns Of the Tacoma began to ii
their salute of nineteen guns as the plel
inotentiaries and their suite went over Il
side.
4 As the Japanese mission. headed by Bare
= Komura and Minister Takahira, ascend,
a the gangway, all attired in black fro,
. coats and shiny silk hats, the band sound,
Z three rufies and then played a march.
l. the head OF the gangway Commander Win
r low received the ENJOYS, and as tn,
e stepped to the deck they were greeted
It Mr.. Peirce. They were escorted immed
d ately to the cabin, where the president W
s awaiting them
r, Their reception was brief and was
IS devoid Of formality as the nature of Il
occasion would permit. Baron Komu
and Minister Takahira shook hands wi
D the president the cordiality OF the gree
ing being unmistakable. AS the represent
= tive Of his emperor Baron Komura tn
extended his thanks to President Roos
Welt and Through him 10 the American pc
ple for the interest they had manifest
in the pending peace negotiations expires
70 ing particularly his gratitude TO the pre-
ID dent for the friendliness he had shown
s. initiating the negotiations which had l
d suited in the pleasure they were to ha
" today. The president assured Baron K
In mura that he had found great pleasure
le taking the steps toward what he hop
<. Continued on Second Pagel