The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-09

| Washington, June 7.-Preliminery
peace negotiations between Russia aud
Japan are generally believed TO be IN
| der way and it IS conceded that Pres
ldent Roosevelt will in all probability
set not as mediator but as 1.-THE friend
ly channel of communication" There
| is as yet no Official admission that
Russia has accepted what Count Cas-
| sini in his cablegram to Count Lams-
dorf last week described as The Of
fer of good will of the President. al
| though instructions to the ambassador
are believed to have reached here late
| tonight in long cablegram received at
| the Russian embassy quite late and
| which was laid before the ambassador
after he had started to retire. After
| reading the dispatch the ambassador
retired for the night at an hour earlier
than usual. All that can be autLori-
tatively said regarding the cablegram
is that il concerned Count Cassinis
| cablegram of last week
Immediately upon his return to his
legation tonight after long confer
ence with the President, Mr.. Takh.ra,
| the Japanese minister, began the prep
aration of a dispatch to his govern
ment upon which he was occupied until
quite late
At the White House up to a late hoUr
| it was declared that the important ca
blegram from Mr. Meyer had not yet
reached here.
Contact" remarked European am
bassador tonight, lis what the Pres
ident has been endeavoring to estab-
lish between Russia and Japan. To do
this it was necessary to obtain from
one side or the other some expression
favorable to peace. Japan has re-
Trained absolutely from giving any in
dication as to what her terms would
be, on the ground that this would be
| interpreted by Russia as a sign OF
weakness"
Whether upon receiving from Coun.
Cassini, an official expression that the
Car wishes TO know the Mikado's
peace terms the President will be able
to obtain a statement on this subject
from Japan remains to be seen. Dip
lomats, however, recall the statement
of Mr.. Takhira some days ago to the
effect that when Russia really wanted
to know Japan's terms she could easi-
ly find them out without communicar-
ing directly with Toxic.
1t is declared on good authority that
thus ear no circular note hs been ad-
dressed to the American ambassadors
abroad but that their instructions have
been informal though dictated directly
from the White House
St Petersburg. June 3. 1:3S a. m.-
With Ambassador Meyers delivery to
the emperor yesterday afternoon OF
PRESIDENT Roosevelts message tender
ing his good offices, the prospect Of the
Presidents efforts to bring the bellig-
erents together in peace negotiations Is
believed to be distinctly brighter. 1t
is equally evident that the situation Is
an exceedingly delicate one, Ambassa-
dor Meyer, when seen by the Ass0ciat-
ed Press tonight, absolutely declined to
say a word regarding his visit to the
car, the mission with which he is
charged, or the emperor's response.
The center of interest is again trans
ferred TO Washington. Count Cassinf
has doubtless received instructions
from the emperor. However, it Will
probably require some little time to
finally determine whether success
shall crown the Presidents efforts to
end the war.
Washington, June diplomatic
Washington was tonight aroused to a
point Of expectancy unequalled since
the inception of the war i'm the far
east by the news from st. Peters
burg of the cars wish TO know ia
pans peace terms. This interest was
heightened by call which Mr.. Taxa
hira, the Japanese minister. made at
the White House by appointment dur
ing the evening. He called shortly af-
ter 9 O'Clock and Immediately went
into conference with the President
They remained together about twenty
minutes When the minister left he
declined to answer questions about his
| CALL The Associated Press bulletin
announcing the cabling OF a message