The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
In Humanity's Interest
End the Struggle.
so ROOSEVELT SPEAKS
Addresses a Note TO The BelIigerent
Governments. Suggests That Ne
qotiatiOns Be Conducted EX-
cIusiVeIy Between Rus
sia and Japan.
sia and Japan.
lBv the Associated Press

Washington, June 9.-An Identical
note, the text of which by authority of
the President, was made public late to-
night at the White House by Secretary
Loeb, has been forwarded to the gov
ernments of Russia and Japan by
President Roosevelt In the interest of
humanity the President urges the war
ring nations to conclude peace. 1t is
suggested by the President that the ne
gotiationS for peace be conducted
directly and exclusively" between the
belligerent nations. The President
note indicates his belief that an inter
mediary may not be necessary to effect
conclusive negotiations, but likewise
expresses the Presidents willingness
to do all that he properly may 90 10
promote the preliminary arrangements
for a time and place of the meeting OF
representatives of the Russian ana
japanese government.
The following is the text of the dis
match which was sent by the President
through diplomatic channels, to the
Japanese and Russian governments:
1.-THE President feels that the time
has come when in the interest of all
mankind he must endeaVor to see II IL
is not possible to bring to an END the
terrible and lamentable conflict now
being waged With both Russia and
japan the United States has inherited
ties of friendship and good Will 1t
hopes for the prosperity and welfare
of each and it feels that the progress
of the world is set back by the war
between these two great nations me
President accordingly urges the Rus
sian and japanese governments not
only for their own sakes, but IN the
IL GiKril yElh
to open direct negotiations for peace
with one another. The President sug-
eests that these peace negotiations be
conducted directly and exclusively be-
tween the belligerents; in other words
that there may be meeting OF rus
sian and Japanese plenipotenllafleS OF
delegates without any intermediary
i'm order to see if it is not possible Tor
these representatives of the two pow
ers to agree to terms of peace. me
President earnestly asks that TN tRus-
sian) CJapanese) government no now
agree TO such meeting, and is ASKING
the (Japanese) (Russian) government
likev,ise to agree. While the Presl-
dent does not feel that any
intermediary should be called In III
respect to the peace nego'
tiations themselves, he is entirely Will
ing To do what he properly can II the
two mowers concerned feel that his SER
vices will be of aid in arranging the
preliminaries as to the time ana place.
IF meeting But even if these prelim-
naries can be arranged directly pc
tween the two powers, or IN any otneI
way. the President will be glad, as ms
sole purpose is to bring about q me-,
ting which the whole civilized "oriu
viii prav may result i'm peace.
The foregoing note was forwarded
IN the Russian and Japanese govern
ments Yesterday afternoon. III Is feIlu-
cred especially significant by the tact
that it was prepared and sent only
after assurances had been received DoIh
from Toxic and st. Petersburg that
such q proposition would be welcomed.
While both Count Cassini. the Rus
sian ambassador, and Minister Taka-
hira. of Japan, were cognizant of the
nature of the note, it was not sent TO
their respective governments through
them. but was cabled by the direction
of the President TO st. Petersburg and
Toxic. and then delivered directly to
the Russian and Japanese govern
ments respectively by Ambassador
Meyer and Minister Griscom.
A formal reply to the note may not
be received for several days, but as
already made clear, informal assur-
ances that it would be welcomed al
| ready are at hand. In view of the
significant character of the document
| and of the attitude toward 1t which
both Russia and Japan have assumed,
| it is regarded, in official and diplomatic
circles as the first firm and decisive
step toward ultimate peace.
When President Roosevelt left
| Washington today on a two days trip
| to Virginia, he was confident that the
result of the international negotia-
tions for peace in the Far East had
been successful, and that the final
blow in the Russo-Japanese war had
| been struck So near are the two
warning powers to amicable contact
at this moment that in all Washing
| ton circles. official and diplomatic,
mere hopefulness has given way to
notable optimism.