West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-06-15
OUR Washington LETTER
The Russian Government Calls Upon
Roosevelt 10 Help
MAKE PEACE WITH JAPAN.
Some Serious Charges Being Made
Against The Department
OF Agriculture.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

""''e louseJ III apparently authen'
tic although unofficial, reports from
st. Petersburg are to be believed.
Just at time when il was feared
that the efforts of the President to
bring about an understanding be.
tween Russia and Japan would cone
to naught, when the reply to the
Presidents representatives. made
through the Russian Ambassador to
Washington had been long deferred
the American Ambassador to St.
Petersburg was summoned late at
night to the Russian Foreign Office
and there informed that the Emper.
or would grant him an audience on
following day. Ambassador Meyer
expressed his qualification at this
unexpected summons and on the
following day donned his uniform
and proceeded to the Peterhof Pal.
ace where he had a somewhat ex.
tended conference with the Car.
Just what took place at that confer
ence is not known but no sooner had
1t ended than orders were issued TO
the Russian Ambassador al Wash
ing.on and Paris to ascertain as
soon as possible the terms on which
Japan would consent to make peace.
Precisely how much the Preside ent
had to do with all this may never be
known and it is barely possible that
the French bankers who refused to
loan Russian any more money think
they did their part in the interest of
peace, but that the President has
been influential cannot be doubted.
The diplomatic negotiations and
the possibility of Russia's accepting
the mediation of President Roose-
welt, in the settlement OF her diff
culties with Japan have moncpolized
public interest IN Washington dur.
ing the past week, to the partial ex-
cluslon OF other matters. IL has
been made entirely clear that the
President, in his now famous con-
ference with Count Cassini, the
Russian Ambassador, reminded that
diplomat that his offer to act as 'rhe
great and good friend" OF both bel.
ligerents still held good and then
pointed out, in the PLAIN language
characteristic Of the Chief Execu-
tive, that the time had arrived when
Russia might well sue for peace as
further fighting would only make
terms demanded by Japan the more
humiliating. Count Cassini forward.
ed to Russia a detailed account of
his interview with the President.
1t was regarded as entirely posi-
ble that decision of the President
with regard to the three Russian
cruisers which sought refuge in Ma
nila harbor would detract from the
popularity Of the United States IN
St. Petersburg and that, together
with the obvious sympathy Of the
American people for the Japanese,
it would prove sufficient TO lead the
Gar to look elsewhere for an inter
medisry, even should he determine
upon seeking peace. In order to
render the decision which required
that the Russian cruisers under Ad-
miral Enquist should either leave
Manila within twenty-four hours or
be !nterned there for the remainder
Of the war it became necessary for
this country to elaborate the con.
struclion Of the international law
controlling the action Of neutrals
and by the Presidents decision
new precedent has been established.
The Law, accepted as just by all
nations. provided that the ships Of
belligerents seeking refuge in neu.
trail harbors may make such repairs
as are necessary to enable them TO
reach their nearest home port. The
United States has now decided.
however, that the intent Of the law
applies to the repairs only Of dam
ages incurred from stress Of weather
or from accident and cannot be con.
strued as to apply 20 damages incur
red in battle. II is claimed that
we're the latter construction admit.
ted every neutral port in the vicinity
Of naval battle would Immediately
become naval base for the purpose
Of repairing tie damages indicted
by the enemy. The Car appears
not to have resented the Presidents
decision.
! The soutbero Cotton Growers