Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-14
Twice Refused Because BE Would Not Con-
sent to Act as Figlrehesd,
PRESIDENT GETS OFFICIAL NOTICE
oablegram Announcing Change in ENJOYS
Received at Oyster Bay,
APPOINTMENT POPULAR EVERYWHERE
General Belief that IL wnI Insure
Success of the Negotiations
why Muravien Re-
signed.


Emperor Nicholas has signed the appoint
ment of NJ. witte, president of the COM
mittee OF ministers, TO be chief pleni-
potentiary representing the Russian gov
ernment in the peace negotiations 10 be
conducted nexs month in the United States.
The appointment, which was signed after
midnight, clothes NJ. witte with plenary
powers.
Oficial notification OF the designation Of
M. Witte to head the mission was for
warded to Washington this morning. NJ.
Witte will take passage the North Ger
man Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm Der
Crosse, which sails from Cherbourg July 26
II has been intimated that japan formally
objected to certain utterances attributed
to NJ. Muraven rejecting upon the Japa-
nese nation but inquiries made here have
failed to obtain any confirmation of the
rumor.
The peace party is overjoyed at the fact
that the negotiations have been placed in
NJ. Whites hands. It is the firm belief that
this not only insures a successful termina-
tion OF the negotiations, but that NJ. Witte
will secure the best possible terms for his
country. Some of the grand dukes and
courtiers Of the emperor's encourage, how
ever, are reported to be furious at NJ.
Whites selection.
Twice Refused once.
PARIS, July BIN. witte twice
refused to become the successor
of NJ. Muravien on the mission
on the ground that he did not wish to be
a mere hgurehead in the transmission TO
Emperor Nicholas of the peace terms
offered by Japan. His selection, therefore,
cannot but be taken to mean that the en-
peror has yielded to his insistence that real
powers plenipotentiary be conferred upon
Russis's plenipotentiary representatives in
the peace commission.
The ST. Petersburg correspondent of the
Echo de Paris states that the declination
OF NJ. Muravietf to head the Russian peace
mission was based partly the state of
his health and partly on the fact that his
allowance for expenses TO cover the period
OF his soJourn in America was only 1900
roubles, which amount he considered in
suffieient, owing TO the great costs living
in the United States.
President Receives News.
OYSTER BAY, L. l., July 13.-President
Roosevelt received from the Associated
Press the first definite news of the declina-
ton OF M Muravieff to act as the prin-
cipel plenipotentary Of Russia in the con-
ference and the designation by the Rus
sian emperor of NJ. Witte as the leading
Russian envoy. Oficial notification of NJ.
Whites appointment has not reached the
president from St. Petersburg. although 1t
may come at any time.
Unofficially, the designation OF NJ wItte
Is regarded as most propitious 1t is be-
lieved that his appointment is an assurance
that peace in the far east is now in sight
Beekman Winthrop governor of Porto
Rico and Edward c. Kent. chief justice
- Of the supreme court of Arizona, were
guests of the president today at Sagamore
' HILL They arrived from New York in
time for luncheon and spent part OF the
afternoon with the president.
Baron Rosen, the Russian amba ssador
and Russian peace plenipotentiary, was
presented to President Roosevelt today at
Sycamore HIN. rhe presentation occupied
only few minutes. No formal exchanges
between the president and the ambassador
were made,
Ambassador Rosen laid before the presi-
dent the letter of the Russian emperor re-
calling Count Cassini and presented his
own credentials as the ambassador in sue
cession to Count Cassini. The president ex-
pressed his pleasure in welcoming Baron
Rosen again to this country, and the am
bassador in replying gave assurances Of his
high regard for the president and the peo-
pie of this country OF America. The oere-
Tnony over the president introduced Am
bassador Rosen to Governor Beekman
Winthrop of Porto Rico and Chief Justice
Edward c. Kent OF Arizona, who were his
guests. Soon afterwRrd the luncheon was
announced.
Ambassador Rosen and Assistant Secre-
tary Pierce remained the guests of the
president until 2:S0 p. m, when they were
conveyed in the presidents carriage to the
pier and then boarded the naval yacht
sylph to return to New York. They ex-
peet to go direct from New York to Wash
tngton.
Conditions at the Front.
SIPINGHAI. Manchuria July 13.-Quiet
continues along the front, but the Japa-
nese are still moving in Corea. The Rus
sian trains move as far as Changtafu In
formation from the Japanese lines indicate
that the rank and lie are exceedingly
anxious for peace To counteract this
feeling Field Marshal Oyama IS continually
issuing glowing appeals to the patriotism
OF his armies
The Chinese say that decaying corpses.
buried In shallow graves in frozen ground
after the battle OF Mukden, have created a
terrible condition. Plague and cholera are
said TO have appeared among the Japanese
Communication interrupted.
SHANGHAI, Thursday, July ia-Chief
postoficee oficials have issued notice
that communication has been stopped be-
tween New Chwang and all western Man.