Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-05
TOday's Telegraphic News
The Peace PIenipotentiaries.


Oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 5-The boom
ing of fifteen great guns in the shadow
of Sycamore Hill today gave notice that
the peace plenipotentiaries of Russia
and Japan had been brought together
by President Roosevelt Twenty-one of
these cannon notes were for the Presi-
dent of the United States and nineteen
each were given the ENJOYS and their
epuletted, order bazOned suites as they
climbed over the white side OF the May
flower, where they met in token of their
resolve to end the struggle OF blood in
Asia. The Dolphin, the Mayhower and
the Galveston were all at anchor near
the Seawanaka yacht club asso-
citation. The first named ships are to
take the plenipotentiaries to Portsmouth
as soon as the ceremonies of the day are
concluded, and the Galveston is to act as
the convoy on the trip. The japanese
plenipOtentiaries, according to the State
Department programme, we're the first
to arrive this forenoon, reaching Oyster
Bay half an hour or so ahead of the
Sylph, which brought assistant Secretary
of State PIERCE who introduced the en-
voys to the President in the Mayaower's
cabin.
President Roosevelt was waiting for
the ENJOYS in the pretty cabin of the
ship and Assistant Secretary Peirce, who
had arrived in advance of the plenipo-
tentiaries, made the formal introduction
The President laughingly said that he
did not need an introduction to Baron
Konura or Minister Takahira, for he had
met them before. He shook hands,
however, with them both and then
greeted the other members of the party.
After the introductious there was a
pleasant chat in the cabin and then the
japanese retired to another cabin to
make room for the Russian party. Count
White, Ambassador Rosen and their
suite had in the meantime arrived on
board the Chattanooga In their turn they
left their ship, were rowed TO the May
flower and were given a salute of nine
teen guns by the Presidents yacht. Intheir
turn they entered the cabin, where they
were introduced to the President, whom
they already knew, and had a pleasant
talk about the weather, the beauties
of the surroundings and other sub
ects equally unlikely to cause future
international complications. Then
the two parties were brought to-
gether and there were speeches, more
hand shaking and more inOcuOus CONVEX
sation. All hands then partook of
'stand up" buffet lunchwhich, il should
be said, was the Presidents clever way
of avoiding any questions Of precedence
which might have arisen had the Presi-
dent Joined his guests at the table. After
the luncheon the japanese gentlemen said
farewell with many protestations of good
will and were ferried to the Dolphin
The President and Secretary Peirce soon
after left the Mayaower in possession of
the Russians and the ceremony was end
ed. The Dolphin conveying the Japan
csc, and the Mayhower with the Russians
on board conveyed by the Galveston will
reach Portsmouth on Monday morning
Boston, Aug. ga special to the
Globe from Gloucester says that Russia
will grant the demand of the japanese
if it is made for heavy indemnity, but
that she will collect this with interest at
the close of the next war with Japan.
The special says: "The Russian En-
bassy here expects that one of the con-
ditions of the peace pact will be stiff
indemnity, which she will eventually
cOncede; second, Russia expects to give
up Sakhalien Island; third, the great is
sue will be on the status of Manchpria,
and here is where the real contest will
come. Russia, is fact, will seek to have
the settlement so that in case she with
draws, which, of course, she expect to
do, the status quo will be the same as
before she entered upon it. "That is,
it will be neutral territory, and not, as
Japan seeks to have it officially made in
the treaty of peace. virtually under
japanese protectorate, as it was before
the war to all intents and purposes es-
sentially Russian. The money indem-
nifty will not be so much of a humilia-
ton as the Russians affect to believe
Some day, they say, it will be collected
with interest from the presumptuOus
little brown men,