River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-07-13
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
PREPARATIONS FOR MEETING OF
THE ENJOYS.
Japan Opposed to China's Request to
Be Represented During the
Proceedings.

Washington, July 10.-The past week
has seen few developments in the plans
for the peace conference negotiations.
expected to be concluded until after
the plenipotentiaries meet. 1t is
pointed out again that the beginning
of the rainy season in the war zone
removes the necessity for the immedi-
ate signing of an armistice. Little
doubt is felt, however, that this will
be the first subject discussed by the
plenipotentiaries and probably their
initial act will be the signing of pro-
tocol providing for the cessation of
hostilities for limited period. Baron
de Rosen will go to New York within
the next few days and thence to
Oyster Bay to be presented to the pres
ident. No place has yet been finally
selected for the holding of the confer
ence, but this Baron de Rosen will dis
cuss with the president on Thursday
Expecting that some place in New
England would certainly be selected
Baron de Rosen chose Manchester for
the summer headquarters for his en-
bassy. 1t is believed here that the
choice lies between Portsmouth, n. H.,
and Portland, Me-, with the chances in
favor of the former.
Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese minister,
will be an early visitor at Oyster Bay
to discuss the arrangements for the
conference. 1t is the belief here that
instead of the president making the
tedious trip to Washington to greet
the pIenipotentiaries the plan which
probably will be adopted is for the
plenipOtentiaries to go to Oyster Bay
the Japanese boarding the Mayf1ower
at the navy yard, Washington, and the
Russian ENJOYS going in the Dolphin
from New York to Oyster Bay where
they will be jointly received by the
president and formally presented to
each other They could go by boat
thence to the place selected for the
conference, returning to Washington
the formal signing Of the treaty of
Washington, provided their labors are
so successful.
China's request to be represented in
the Washington conference on the
Ground that she is vitality interested in
IS proceedings, has been received by
Vie president and informally transmit
ted to the belligerents. Whether the
president has received the formal re-
plies cannot be learned, but it can be
stated that while Russia is inclined to
favor the suggestion, Japan will not
consent to it. Japan has already made
public her assurance that Manchuria is
to be restored to China. That is one of
the principles for which she says she
has been fighting. Japan regards her
self as fully capable of executing this
promise without the assistance Of China,
and in view of China's inability before
the war to cope with Russia in Man
chEria, the japanese government is un-
able to see what possible service Chi
nese representative would be in the
Washington conference. Moreover,
Japan has all along taken the position
that when peace negotiations were be-
gun they would be conducted directly
with Russia. 1t is altogether unlikely
that the Washington government will
press the claim of China, and the official
view here fails to sympathize with the
idea.