New-York tribune., 1905-06-17
JAPAN'S FRANK REPLY.
TEXT MlDE PUBLIC.
Minister Ta'adira Gems Point by
His Open Methods.
frnon r1r- rnrrrxE BuREArl

to-day made public the text Of Japan's response
to the Presidents iGentic note The text of the
japanese note is as follows:
The imperial government have given to the
suggestions Of the President Of the United
States embodied in the note handed TO the Min
lister for Foreign Affairs by the United states
Minister the 9th inst, very serious con-
sideratiOn to which, because of it's source and
its import it is justly entitled Desiring, in tne
interest of the world We'll as in the interest
of Japan, the re-establishment of peace WIN
Russia terms and conditions that Will fuily
guarantee its stability the imperial govern
rnent will in response to the suggestions of the
President. appoint plenipotentiaries of Japan 10
meet the plenipotentiaries of Russia at suGh
time and place as may be found TO be mutuaIly
agreeable and convenient for the purpose OK
negotiating and concluding terms of peace d.
rectIy and exclusively between the two belliger-i
ent powers.
AS the japanese Minister had given
out this note for publication, numerous appli-
cations were made to Count Cassini for a copy
of the Russian reply. but they were met with
the uniform statement that he could not furnish
the text and that there prospect of its
being given out. At the White House it was
said that since Japan had given out her reply
through her Minister to Washington the pub
lication OF the Russian reply must rest with ths
Russian Ambassador.
TAKAHIRA SCORES A POINT
1t is generally remarked that Minister Takas
hira has rather scored a point for frank and
open dealing by his course in this respect, and
it is limited in diplomatic circles that Russia
hardly dares make public the text of her reply
because of the discrepancy between it and the
version given out in ST Petersburg "for home
consumption" 1t is even hinted that, TO some
extent, at least, the domestic utterances of the
Russian Foreign Office recall the tone of the
public utterances of the Chinese government
when it forced to make peace with Japan
hat lar baS bpe b.
lic the adoption of the precise phraseolOgy Of
the note written by President Roosevelt has be-
come the subject of comment. and it is held to
indicate not only a frank and manly disposition
the part of Japan, but determination to
agree. in the Presidents own words and with
his intention, with the request he makes of both
bengerents
In the absence of the publication of Russia's
reply there is naturally disposition to suspect
that It is couched in less frank language and
that 1t may avoid committing Russia in
precise terms to an acceptance in their entirety
of the Presidents suggestions
1t is declared officially that no progress IN the
peace negotiations has been made since the se~
lection of Washington as the place of meeting.
and it is intimated that advIces from Toxic and
ST. Petersburg concerning the personnel Of the
peace commission and the dates for the cons
vening of the conference which would prove
agreeable to each nation are now awaited
NO INDICATION OF PROTOCOL
Speculation as to a possible date and on the
further possibility that some attempt may ba
made to conclude a protocol providing for an
arrnistfce is rife, especially in the diplomatio
corps At present there IS no positive lndlcA~
ton of an effort to effect protocol or an armls
tice in advance of the meeting of the pienis
potentiaries and in some quarters 1t Is heio
that no such effort will be made. careful
It'd fSe T1nfn rave a
entire absence of reference to an arrnistiee or
a temporary cessation of hostilities, and from
this it is argued that President Roosevelt, after
having sounded the belligerents must have con-
cIuded that such suggestion would not prove
| successful Those who advance this opinion pe-
Eeve that Japan. because of Russias metnoos
immediately prior to the present war, IS dlspoSeu
to accept with extreme caution the view that
Russia is entirely in earnest in her desire for
peace. and that therefore there was an Intlma-
ton from Toxic to the President. even before he
issued his ider.ic note that it would be futile
to ask an agreement to an armistice prior 10
| the final meeting of the plenipotentarles.
There are few diplomats. on the other
| hand who believe that the President Will now
| devote his efforts to securing an avoidance OF
bostilittes but they are in the minority, while
| the fact that the President st1u expects u
| leave washington for the summer on June 20
| saerns to afford some support the former
| contention
Among the diplomats particularly is the proba-
ble date of the conference discussed with the Ut
most earnestness. There was rumor current
| during the day that the first meeting wouId
| occur on July 20 and investigation resulted III
| tracing the rurOr to Russian sources. 1t WOULD
bA barely possible for the Japanese plenipoteh-
] tiar,es TO reach Washington in time for meet
| ins on that date. The Empress of India, one or
| the fastest vessels the Pacific, leaves Hoko-
! hama on June 80 and will be due in vancouver
| ON Julv - Allowing six days for the trip from
| x,orcouver to washington, the commissioners
,igb+ reach here by July Is, in time to hold their
! erst formal meeting July 20. 1t Is pointed
| out that this would allow only two weeks for
| +bo commitment Of the japanese delegates, for
| their instruction and the preparation of all the
| data they would wish to bring with them or
| course the shorter time required for travel from
! Ct Petersburg to Washington would be ma
! +ar,aIIv TO the advantage of the Russian COM
! r,issoners and afford them ample time for prep
| aration.
! II IS not generally regarded as possible. how
| a,,ar that so early date for the meeting VIII
| nrove either practicable agreeable to both
| beuigerents and majority OF those most COM
| no+eDt TO Judge believe that the date of meeting
will be well along in August, perhaps month
/ later than the earliest possible date.
DIPLOMATS PLANS UPSET.
| 1,,n,omats other than Ambassador Cassini and
I minister Takahira would welcome the latest
-.,,,,a date for the reason that they are oath
| 70 abandon the plans they have made for the
summer and for the further renscn that no one
/ - tbam enjoys the prospect Of even a short