Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-24
NLAlN WILL ~ hAAAOl4A
soVereigns Hold Conference on Imperial
Yacht in Gulf Of Finland,
+, MEETING ARRANesD ON SHORT MOTTO
Issue Of War and Status Of Morocco to
Considered
NEITHER cOssUlTS HI mlNIsT
Fear in Paris that Attempt win Be
to Alternate Russia from Frauce.
NAY DISTURB PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
Statement that Nicholas May he InGu-
enced 20 Take Radical stand
DipIomatists Taken Com
pIeteIy by Surprise.

Of the peace conference anc with sudden
ness already disconcerting to diplomatic
and court circles. the emperor left Peterhof
today on board :he imperial yacht Polar
Star for a conference with Emperor Will
liam. who IL cruising on the Hohenzollern
in Finnish waters.
The first interview Of the sovereigns was
expected to take place this evening OFF the
Finnish port OF Borgo. at the mouth Of the
Gulf Of Finland. near Helsingfors. This
will be followed by another Interview to-
morrow. after which Emperor Nicholas will |
return to ST. Petersburg. and Emperor VIII
liam will continue his cruise.
The emperor Is accompanied by his 1
brother, Grand Duke Michael Alexandra
witch, and a considerable suite including |
Count Benckendorff, marshal of the court; |
General Baron w. Fredercks, minister of |
the imperial house; Ccunt Heyden chief |
Of the imperial chancellery; Admiral Biridi- |
loff minister OF marine Captain Won Essen. |
who commanded the battleship Sevastopol |
during the siege of Port Arthur; Captain !
Chagin, who commanded the AImsz the |
only cruiser Of Admiral Rojestvenskys fleet
to reach Vladivostok after the battle OF the
Sea OF Japan; Captain Hintz. naval at
tache Of the German embassy; also party
OF courtiers and the emperor's escort OF
sailors and marines with a guard COM
manded by Admiral Neeloff.
state Departments Not ConsuIted.
II Is noticeable that there is no represent
ative OF the Russian Foreign office among
the emperor's encourage nor is the Ger
man ambassador Count Alvensleben, on
board the Polar STAR This gives color TO
the report that the meeting was arranged
between the two emperors directly. without
recourse to the usual diplomatic channels,
Emperor William suggesting the rendezvous
Nv "a nh nd
The idea, the report says met the emperors
favor. but the final arrangements were only
completed yesterday and some OF the mem
bers of the imperial family were hastily
commanded last night to accompany his
majesty. rse
Mahy dlbiorasS were taken completely by
surprise by the news Of today the rumors
that a meeting was contemplated which
were in evidence Friday having been met
with the fiattest denials in official quarters
and the German ambassador having stated
that he knew nothing of any such plan be-
ing on foot
Emperor Williams action was instantly
connected with the Moroccan question and
admiration for his political astuteness m
realizing his opportunities was expressed
all sides
Conference Informal.
Like the last meeting between Emperor
Nicholas and Emperor william at hunt
ing seat in Russian Poland where the Euro
pean and eastern situations were discussed
between the strokes of a game of billiards
and Russia was assured that II need have
no anxiety regarding its western frontier
while engaged with the Japanese. the con-
, ferences In the cabin of the Hohenzollern
and the Polar stat will be entirely informal
and probably without secretaries or other
witnesses. unless perhaps Grand Duke
Michael Alexandrovitch should be a par
ticipant.
There is no set program of subjects Cor
discussion. aside from a great considera-
tion Of the factors in the political situation
afrecting the two empires but 1t can be
stated that the coming meeting OF the
Russo-Japanese plenipotentiaries will oc-
cupy a place in the foreground.
The action OF Emperor William in seeking
conference at this moment is generally
interpreted as an assurance Of his moral
support OF Russia in the coming pour parl-
ers at wRhhlngton and Portsmouth. and to
show that German participation in the re-
cent Japanese loan was not a mark Of the
alienation Of German sympathy from Rus
sta. Emperor William. whose keen interest
in the lessons OF the Russo-Japanese war
is well known has also taken advantage OF
the occasion to discuss the details with
eye-witnesses. and the presence OF the naval
oficers who distinguished themselves in the
far east IL due to his special request.
Alarm at Paris.
PARIS, July 2s-Emperor Nicholas
cruise in the Gulf Of Finland to meet
Emperor william is the subject or much
comment in the press. Certain newspapers
express the fear that the German emperor
win influence the Russian emperor over
FAR eastern matters and win hinder the
carrying out OF the peace program while
others are OF the opinion that Emperor
William seeks 20 estrange Russia from
France
The Journal des Debats says that tn,
first acts OF Emperor Nicholas on his re
turn to Russia win be looked forward tc
with particular interest.
Witts COnsults NeIidOn.
As sequel to the conference betweer
Premier Rouvier and M witte al the For
eign once on Saturday the Russian peae,
plenipotentia-y held an extended cOnver
sa;lon with M. Nelidon, the Russian am
bassador. after which special oourie
left for St. Petersburg, having dispatches
Tor the emperor,
The utmost discretion has been Oh
served with reference to the exchanges
made at Saturdays meeting. but there g
reason to believe that the French premie
Is nov fully acquainted with the Russial
standpoint and With the lihe OF actOi
which NJ. witte will adopt at the peae
conference.
NJ Witte appears 20 be satisfied viii
NJ. Rouvier's assurances that France vii
adopt every possible means to assist Il
ally 20 reach satisfactory arransement,
The friendly relations OF the French gov
ernment with Great Britain viii undoubi
edly play a prominent part when the Pc
riod for direct exchange OF views b.
gins. ID Is believed that this was m
chief point discussed during the converse
tion at the ouai dorsay, but until the line
are defined on which the negotiations vi
b Conducted France can only promis