The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-16
Amerian Capital Named by Request of Two
 Nations. REGARDED AS ONLY
 LOGICAL SOLUTION Roosevelt COnferS with Ta- kahira and Cas-
 Sini. Prior to Formal Meeting of Conference Protocol VIII Probably he Pro- claimed Question as to
 Amount of Japan's
 Indemnity.

tlonal capital has been selected as the seat of negotiations between the pleni- potentiaries of Russia and Japan for peace The capital of America as the location of peace negotiations marks another step toward ultimate peace in shortly afterwards by a semi official Roosevelt.
 Official announcement of the selec- tion of Washington was made by Sec retary Loeb at the White House at 13o o'clock today. It was in typewriter form and read as follows:
 When the two governments were unable to agree upon either Chefoo or Paris the President suggested The Hague but both governments have now requested that Washington be chosen as the place of meeting and the President has accordingly formally notifed both governments that Wash ington will be so selected"
 s,s This statement was supplemented etiie Far East instituted by President announcement that after meeting and organizing. the plenipotentaries of the two governments, if 1t should be found to be uncomfortably hot in Washing ton, may adjourn the meeting to some summer resort in the North and con tinue their sitting until such time as the weather in Washington shall be more comfortable
 Now that some of the details of the negotiations which have been pending for more than two weeks are known, the selection of Washington Is regarded as the only logical solution of the prob lem presented to the belligerant gov ernments. After the acceptance by Russia and Japan of President Roose- velt's proposition that they consider the qutstion of peace. Russia indicated Paris as the most desirable place of meting to negotiate treaty and Japan indicated Chefoo. There the subject rested for forty-eight hours. Finally Japan declined to consider Paris for obvious reasons and Russia objected to the holding of the conference in any Oriental city. Washington was then suggested as place at which the bel ligerents could meet on common ground undisturbed by either political or per sonal influences.
 Roosevelt Suggest The Hague.
 As a means of facilitating the nego- tiations the President suggested that the conference be held at The Hague, the seat of the international arbitration tribunal and the location of the first general arbitration conference called at the instance of Emperor Nicholas of Russia He indicated that both for practical and sentimental reasons The Hague would be a most desirable place of meeting for the plenipotentaries.
 Further consideration of the subject developed the practically unalterable objection of Japan to any European capital as a seat for the conference. She objected particularly to The Hague, believing that 1t was too far within the sphere of Russian influence; and for a similar reason she declined Cavorably to consider Geneva. Until today, however, Japan's irreconcilable opposition to the selection of any Euro pean capital was not known definitely. At a conference which Kogoro Taka- hira. the Japanese Minister, had with President Roosevelt today he conveyed to the President the Japanese Govern ments final refusal to consent to the holding of the conference in Europe.
 Minister Takahlra reached the execu- tive office at 10:45 a.. n.. and was ush- cred at once into President Roosevelt's private office, They remained in con ference for an hour and twenty-five minutes. The conference was not pre- arranged, but the significance of tho advices which Minister Takahira bore from his Government induced the Pres ident to deny himself to all callers un- til the conclusion of the conference. As he left the White House. the Japanese Minister declined to discuss the mis- sion in any way. except to say that the negotiations were proceeding favorably He added that negotiations of ihis character constituted "a long journey"
 The refusal of Japan to agree to the holding of the conference in Europe was communicated by President Roose- welt to the Russian Ambassador and likewise cabled to St. Petersburg. While the President did not act in the capacity of arbiter between Russia and Japan, he was in a position after the conference with Minister Takahira and his communication to Ambassador Cas- sini to formally announce the selection of Washington as the seat of the con ference.
 COnfers With CassInI.
 Shortly before o'clock this after noon Ambassador Cassini called at the White House by appointment and was received by the President in the Blue Room. The President explained to the Ambassador the nature of his interview with Minister Takahira and conveyed to him the personal assurances that the American Government would do all in its power which 1t properly might do to afford the plenipotentiaries of the two Governments comfortable and conven- tent facilities for the transaction of the extremely important duties. Other de- tails of the conference, which lasted .Aalf an hour. were withheld. Neither the President nor Ambassador CaSsini