Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-12
Russia Accepts Mr.. Roose-
velt's Plan.
THE PRESIDENT TOLD
COUNT CASSINI CALLS AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
Reply Not Made Public-Plenipoten-
tiaries Will, 1t is Said, Be Appoint
ed-Place Undetermined.

Prospects of peace negotiations were
brought measurably nearer today by the
authoritative announcement that Ambas-
sador Cassini, acting for the Russian gov
ernment, had signified to President Roose-
welt Russfa's assent to the Presidents
propositions. Accordingly Russia will ap-
point plenipotentiaries to meet the pleni-
potentiaries of Japan to discuss the ques-
tion of peace.
1t was further announced from the same
authoritative source that the place of meet
Ing of the peace plenipotentaries is at
present being discussed
These announcements were deemed of the
highest Importance in view of the rather
pessimistic dispatches of the morning from
European sources intimating that the Rus
SLAMS might appoint representatives. hut
might insist upon merely giving them pow
er 10 inquire the Japanese terms
III was feared that under such condition
'he japanese would refuse to treat and
might not even agree to an armistice. It
was intimated that Japan woul.J insist unor
dealing only with representativas 90 ar
russian government invested with power
suhclent to sign a treaty of peace
Russia's Assent Announced.
1t will be noted that today's announce
ment specifically states that Russia as
sents to the appointment of pIenipotentia-
ries 10 meet the Japanese Observation-Disclosures
long cablegram was received from Mr..
meyer, the American ambassador at st.
PETERSBURG late Saturday night, which was
not declphered at that time. 1t was gen.
eraiy supposed to have been the Russian
reply. The contents of this cabiegram have
not yet been made public, but it Is believed
mat Mr. Meyer in his dispatch indicated
the responsive form which he expected
Russia answer would take when formally
communicated
Count Cassini had half hours confer
ence with the President today. At It's close
the count returned at once to his embassy
aecinhs 10 discuss in any way the object
OF ms visit 1t is known, however Am
bassador Cassini called to express the
RUSSIAN governments assent to the Presf-
dents peace proposition, and to state that
Russia would appoint plenipotentlaries to
meet the plenipotentiaries of japan to dis
cuss the question of peace. The place of
meeting at present is being discussed.
At the Russian Embassy.
F. statement was today made at the Rus
sian embassy that the reply of the Russian
government to the Presidents Identical
note would undoubtedly be found to favor
the appointment of plenipotentiaries to
conduct peace negotiations with the same
powers as are given to the plenipotentiaries
OF Japan. 1t was acknowledged that any
other condition in the appointment of rep
resentatives of the two governments to me-
gotfate peace would be out of the uues-
ton.
This statement did much to clear I'D the
situation today, and 1t was generally be-
lieved that the visit of Count Cass;ni the
Russian ambassador to the President was
Tor the purpose of laying at rest all doubt
on that subject and assuring the President
that so far as Russia Is concerned peace
negotiations, invited by him. will be begun
and carried on in good faith. The ambas-
sador had received a copy of his govern
ments reply to President Rooseyelt's note
and carried ii with him to the White
House.
Must Be Given Full Power.
The reports to the effect that Russia
would withhold from her representatives
the full power to conduct a negotiation
for peace at first caused doubt to exist
as to whether any progress had been
made at all in the direction of peace Ac-
cording to that report the representatives
of Russia were to be authorized to re-
ceive Japan's proposals and transmit
them to the RUSSIAN government for con-
That in the view of nearly
every one interested in the peace negotia-
tionS, would amount to exactly nothing
The idea that Japan would consent to an
secuted.
The facts in relation to the conclusion of
/ peace between Japan and China were re-
called in connection with this report as to
the purposes of the Russian government
When the terms of peace between China
and Japan were at first discussed China
proposed on two occasions to appoint repre-
with power to receive the terms
Of Japan and to transmit them to the i'm
perial government. That proposition was
not considered by Japan, and no negotia-
lions were begun until the appointment Of
LII Hung Chang by China with full powers
10 conclude peace.
If the Russian attitude should finally fall
short of the appointment of plenipotenti-
aries Japan will, in the opinion of men
thoroughly familiar with the course that
decline to declare an armistice and to state
The conditions on which she would be will
ng TO terminate the war
A Crisis for Japan.
The Japanese recognize, it is declared in
liplomattic circles, that the present is most
critical moment for them. What Macchi-
velia diplomacy may do in the conclusion of
a peace is said to be beyond the power of
any one to surmise and the course that is
to be taken by Russia is being watched
with unusual interest in all the legations
here.
The agreement to cease hostilities is one
Of greatest importance for Japan. In
short time the rainy season will come in
Manchuria, rendering military operations
difficult 1t is certain, according to the
view of many prominent diplomats, that
Japan will not permit negotiations to drag
along slowly for long time. giving pro-
onged breathing speel to Russia without
very good prospects for an agreement.
Question of Armistice.
While an armistice. will be declared by
Russia and Japan in the event of the ap-
pcintment of peace plenipotentiaries it -
yet to be determined whether the agree
nent for an armistice will include an agree
nItnt that all military preparations are to
stop 1t is quite generally believed that
Japan will not consent to such PROVISION,
but that she viii want to push ahead in the
of her military forces so that
L the negotiations come to an unsafisfac-
CRY end she can continue her operations
against Russia effectively.
This attitude on the part of the japanese
cward the peace negotiations, 1t is said,
Will be natural because of the apprehension
hat exists that Russia will not meet the
situation in spirit of concfliatton sufficient
@ allow an agreement. For that reason II
5 declared Japan will wish to keep herself
n readiness to resume military operations