The midland journal., 1905-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Uuquestionably the humane world will
applaud the direct and forceful appeal
which President Roosevelt has made in
behalf of humanity and of mankind in
general in his identical note to Russia
and Japan begging them to agree to a
meeting between plenipotentiaries for
the purpose of bringing about termin-
alton of the terrible and lamentable
conflict now being waged". The Presi-
dents note is so filled with expressions of
good will that it could hardly occasion
offense- to the most sensitive power and
in view of the obvious we'll meaning
which pervades the communication it is
unlikely that either of the powers ad-
dressed would care to exhibit itself
before the world as resenting the address
of so excellent a friend.
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1t is generally assumed by the dip
lomats in Washington that the President,
as result of the close relations which,
through Ambassador Meyer in St, Peters
burg and Minister Takihira in Wash
ington, he has established between the
Gear on the one hand and the Mikado on
the other, and himself was assured in
advance of the preparation of his note
that its receipt would prove acceptable
to both.
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The feature of the note which at once
strikes all diplomats who have read its
terms is that it contains fair warning to
Russia that under no circumstances can
Japan be expected to accept of nego-
tiations participated in by European
powers other than Russia as has been
suggested. Profting by her experience
after the Chinese war Japan would, of
course. reject any such proposal and
doubtless it was the purpose of the
President to make clear that fact not
only to Russia but to the entire European
world. That he has done so is proven
by the unanimous declarations of the
European representatives in Washington
that is the most obvious feature of the
note.
*x*
Secretary Taft has practically COM
pleted the investigation of the Loomis-
Bowen case and everything points to
the exoneration of Secretary Loomis,
while it is inportable that Mr.. Bowen
will be able to retain his diplomatic
1o arr;x,od in,
Washington from Bogota and has been
examined by Secretery Taft, Mr.. Bowen
being accorded the privilege of cross
examining the Minister. Mr.. Bowen
has assured Secretary Taft that Minister
Russell would certainly substantiate the
charges against the Secretary but on the
contrary his testimony only served still
further to exonerate Mr.. Loomis. Then
Mr.. Bowen asked that still one more
witness be called and Secretary Taft
assented. The Minister also asked that
he be sent to Caracas to gather up evil
dence but in view of his utter failure to
substantiate his charges thus far it is
entirely unlikely that his request will
receive favorable action.
*x*
Much qualification is expressed at the
courtesy shown by France in connection
with the removal of the remains of John
Paul Jones to this country. The French
government has designated a torpedo boat
to transport the body from Paris to Havre
where it will be met by Admiral Sigsbee
with considerable squadron and escort
ed with full military honors to Annap-
oils, where it will be inferred. There have
been received so many requests from var
ious cities that the body should lie in
state in each that the Navy Department
has determined to refuse th EN- all and to
bring the body directly up the Chesa-
peake to Annapolis.
x*.
There is considerable uneasiuess mani
tested with regard to the charges of the
Southern Cotton Planters Association
that information regarding the cotton es-
Inmates of the Department of Agriculture
have been furnished to certain firms in
Wall Street in advance of their regular
publication. These charges duplicate
Japser Wilson, son Of and private Secre-
tary to the Secretary of Agriculture, and
George K. Holmes, assistant chief of the
Bureau of Statistics. 1t is not believed
that young Wilson can have been actually
guilty although he is recognized as being
young man of somewhat limited intel
ligeuce. 1t is certain, however. that the
matter will be probed to the bottom and
it may fare badly with the association
preferring the charges if they are found
to be groundless.
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