The Penn's Grove record., 1905-08-25
PLAN FOR ENDING WAR
President Roosevelt Suggests Arbi-
tration to Russia and Japan.
Envey White, After Long Conference with
Rosen. Sends Report to Czar-Tha
Toxic Cabinet Couvsne O..

Portsmouth, N. H.-The question Of
peace now rests with the Gear. He is
in possession Of the proposal made by
President Roosevelt to Baron Rosen at
Oyster Bay. Before the President SUBJ
mitted his proposition to the Russian
envoy he had obtained the assent of
the japanese Government to the new
conditions, and, therefore, there is
nothlng IN the way of a peace treaty
now except the refusal of Emperor
Nicholas to let disputed articles of the
proposed peace agreement go to The
hague tribunal for arbitration or to
some person or persons agreed upon to
settle the disputed points.
When President Roosevelt saw Baron
Rosen he informed him that the Toxic
Government would modify it's condi-
tons in respect Of limiting the naval
power of Russia in the Sea Of Japan
and would withdraw in part it's de-
mand for the wal vessels interned in
neutral harbors. The question of in.
demnity and the future ownership of
Sakhalien Island, he said. could very
well be left to The Hague tribunal, a
cour practically created by the Gar,
or to a similar body.
This would permit the ENJOYS in
Portsmouth to sign a treaty of peace
forthwith, postponing the settlement
of the two disputed articles, but bind
ing themselves to accept the decision
of The Hague Court. The President
informed Baron Rosen there was no
douDt Of Japan's acceptance, and,
therefore, there was no reason why
the war should continue. The Car
stood for the principle of arbitration,
and the tremendous value of The
Hague Court could not be better proved
than in the settlement of so weighty a
question. 1t IS understood that Baron
Rosen thoroughly approved the plan,
and perceived that it would solve all
the difficulties in Portsmouth, but he
expressed his fear that the Russian
Government might decline to recog-
nize in any way, either through arbitra-
ton OF otherwise, the proposition that
Japan is entitled to reimbursement.
The feature of the plan by President
Roosevelt, communicated through
Baron ROsen to Mr.. White and trans.
mitted by the latter to Emperor Mich
Olas, was based upon the principle of
arbitration. Whether the proposal con-
templates arbitration Of all the articles
upon which the plenipotentiaries have
failed to agree, or only upon the ques-
ton Of indemnity, cannot be stated with
p~ositiveneSs, but it is more than prob
able that it relates only to indemnity,
or to indemnity and the cession of the
Island of Sakhalien.
Neither is it possible to say whether
the President has yet made a similar
proposition to Japan, but the under
standing is that he had Japan's full
assent before he discussed the propo-
sition with Baron Rosen. The GUS
tomary diplomatic proceedings in such
q case would be to submit the proposal
simultaneously to both countries, but
there might be an advantage in secur-
ing the adherence of one before submit
ting it to the other. To Emperor Mich
olas, the author of The Hague peace
conference, the suggestion of arbitra-
ton, which will necessarily immediate
" command the sympathy of the public
opinion of the world will be particu-
larly hard to reject.
If he agrees, Japan, if she has not
already done so, would be all the more
bound to submit her claim to the de-
cision of an impartial arbitrator. Ac-
ceptance by both sides would involve a
great extension of the principle of ar
bitration, as nations have heretofore
declined to arbitrate questions involv-
ing their "honor and dignity" Both
Mr.. Takahira and Mr.. White in the
earlier stages of the conference abso-
lutely rejected the idea of arbitration.
1t is very significant that the Japan
csc Cabinet has convened at Toxic to
consider grave and urgent matters.