The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-23
RUSSIA'S REPLY IN THE
 HANDS OF HER ENYOYS
tcontinued from First Page.)

J. l.. McGrew, one of the stenograph- CTS attached to the executive. offices at Oyster Bay, had arrived with a com munication from the president for the Russian plenipotentiaries, W M. Witte and Baron Rosen had left the hotel, os- tensibly for a ride in an, auto car to York Beach. but instead had quitely slipped over to the conference build ing at the navy yard to receive the message from Assistant Secretary Peirce. The most elaborate precautions had been taken to insure ssctecy, but the news leaked out of tn enessenger's arrival. f7 -.~.
 From 10;S0 until 1:3O M. Witte and Baron deRcsen remained in conference with Mir. Peirce. All those present re- fuse tU make any statements regard ing what transpired at the navy yard even refusing to admit that any frn- portance attached to the matter. M. Witte would only admit that he had gone to the building to send a mes sage and Tsaron deRosen and MT. Peirce absolutely refused to make any statement f
 Mir. McGrew left on the s:10 train for Boston, where. according to reports, he took the Merchants limited after first irquiring at the intelligence office for the connections to Oyster Bay. He car ried a dress suit case which probably contained the reply to the president,
 The reply it is believed was prepared by M. Witte and Baron deRosen after Mir. Peirce had delivered to them the presidents message A suggestion Is made that during their stay at the navy yard the Russian plenipotentiaries were in direct communication with the president by telegraph, but there is nothing to substantiate this, and under the circumstances it appears unlikely.
 Mir. Roosevelts message to M. Witte and Baron deRosen is believed to have been the result of his interview yester- day at Oyster Bay with Baron Kaneko, one of Marquis Ito's close friends, who has acted as the presidents medium of communication with the Tokio govern ment. A story was in circulation at the hotel this afternoon to the effect that Baron Kaneko's secretary, MT. saki, was here in communication with the Japanese plenipotentiaries and also with Mr. Peirce, but investigation de- veloped the fact that although Mir. Saki had been here a week ago he was not here to-day. It has been ascertained here that in addition to the president $ communication to NJ. Witte through Baron deRosen last Saturday and by messenger to-day, messages directly to Emperor Nicholas have been delivered by Ambassador Meyer at St. Peters, burg, but no confirmation is obtafnable. The general disposition was to regard to-day's swift and kaleidoscopic devel- opments as materially brightening tka chances of the success of the presi- dents heroic endeavor to save the peace conference from failure, But it was realized that all as before depend ed on the attitude of Emperor Nicholas and his advisers. M Witte, it is posi- lively stated, personally favors the so- lution offered by the president, but he is powerless unless his imperial master gives the word. With the most intense anxiety that word was awaited. It will spell peace or war. ts'
 Another slight furry was created to- night by the arrival of Colonel Mi chaels, the chief clerk of the state de- partment. He had come in response to a summons from MT. Peirce, but both Mir. Peirce and Colonel Michaels stated that the visit was only in connection with the routine business of the depart ment MT. Peirce, the third assistant secre- tary of state, tonight issued the follow. ing statement:
 No envoy or representative of the president had any conference with M. Witte or Baron Rosen to-day, nor did I have any conference with either of them, nor was I closeted with them. They had business at the navy yard, and my duties required me to be pres ent at the yard to make suitable ar- engagements for their comfort But in no way, shape or manner did I have any conference with them, on behalf of the president, in relation to their nego- tiations with Japan.
 I'M. Witte and Baron Rosen had in tended to remain longer in the navy yard, in consequence of which: I had luncheon prepared for them, but owing