Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-08-11
Now IN Session.

To- and Japan were formally in
-..-.., It the government building, on
C. nth utal, or Navy leland, Forts
mouth hy Third Assistant Secretary
OF Sta ' Fierce, representative oil the
Admin trAtion. to enable them to
Gtar'l! and pcaceahly enter upon the
details OF the delicate task which
means =" much for Russia, Japan and
TIE civilized world.
BtcCn komura had precedence, sun
day. in an official visit TO the President
at pv-r.r Bay, simply because he had
t,cn tie fist to arrive in the country
AMI lat his respects to the Chief EX-
cct4flt, at Sycamore Hill, almost
W>,h tcfDre Mr. Witte had arrived.
lie and his suite were taken aboard
the projected cruiser Tacoma, at the
pier %. ;hc y. \. Yacht Club, about .
O'Clock Sunday morning, and arrived
at Oyster Bay before noon. Half an
hour afterwards the Russian represent
tatiNcS made the same trip, on the
projected cruiser Chattanooga. Both
vc>-es were conveyed by the Sylph
bearing Secretary Pierce. The ENJOYS,
Oh arrival, were greeted with an am
bassadorial salute OF - guns
/ Both delegations were then taken
aboard the Presidents yacht, May
flower, where they were formally intro.
duced by the President. A buffet
luncheon was spread, and brief time
taken tor refreshments. The Presi-
dent, on behalf Of the United States
EXTENDED formal greetings to the high
@iliYo.entiarics and assured them OF
the fervent hope and prayer OF the
American people that fair, just and
lasting peace may be concluded be.
/ tween them, and he expressed the be-
.ief that this wish was likewise shared
( b. civilized mankind. While the
meeting was unattended with pomp
and ceremony, due honor was paid the
distinguished guests of the country,
and they were greeted with all the
d.gnified courtesy to which their ex.
allied rank entitled them. The ga.
looms Of the Mayhower were beauti-
fully decorated with flowers, the Amer
lean gladiolus predominating, q re-
Gently created variety bearing superb
purple blossom. To avoid all question
OF precedence, the luncheon was q
buffet function, which precluded any
idea of special favor to either that
might have been suggested by the for
NAL seating Of the ENJOYS at q table
with the President.
At conclusion, the Japanese on the
Dolphin and the Russians on the May.
.lower-the President having gone
ashore-under convoy of the Sylph
with Secretary Pierce, proceeded to
steam slowly on their trip to de stina-
ton, on Navy Island, at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire. 1t had been ar
ranged for the first meeting to be held
Monday morning, but owing to dense
log and consequent delay, and proba-
bly, as much to the Muscovites' aver
sion to Monday as day of ill.omen,
the flotilla did not arrive at Ports
mouth till Tuesday morning. The
latter part of the journey was per-
formed by Mr.. Witte and bis suite by
rail, and on arrival at Portsmouth
they went aboard the MayHower, where
they were formally received by Ad.
miral Mead.
The government has gone to an ex-
pense of $4,000 in fitting up the ma
val stores building, the second floor of
which is the forum in which gentle
Peace will preside and prabably estab-
lish her reign. The press dispatches
thus describe its elegant appointments:
The conference-room is in the center of
the building, over the main entrance.
Adjoining it on one side is a suite of three
spacious rooms, which have been assigned
to the Japanese ENJOYS. On the other
side is receptiOn-rOom, dedicated to tho
representatives of the United States Gov
eminent. Beyond this is suite Of three
rooms for the use of the Russian mission
On either side of corridor which divides
the building are large dinng-rooms,
where mid day luncheons will be served
to the respective missions, and in the east
ern dining-room Admiral Mead, Com.
mandant Of the navy-yard. will give a
banquet to the ENJOYS, their suites and
about GO invited guests. The freproof
rooms have been fitted up for the storage
of documents. The conference room is
imposingly furnished. A mammoth ia
: BILE in the center is surrounded by huge
chairs, beautifully uphol stored in black
leather. On the floor is costly Persian
rug. At each end of the room are ma
hoSany tables, adarted for clerical work.
, Tho walls of the rooms are draped with
, flags contributed by the Navy used i'm
making the international code signals,
the flags relieve the bare walls in all OF
he rooms, and are the only decorations,
Handsome books, tables and chairs make
all of the rooms up in elegant dignity
Persian rugs are laid on the floors.