Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-20
Peace PARLEY
Is GIVEN NAME
RUsso-JAPANEsE MEETING TO
BE KNOWN AS "WAsHINa-
TON CONFERENCE"
DIPLOMATS SUSPEND
SUMNER PROGRAMMES
Activity in Capitol Circles Will Be
the Order During Hot Season
Text Of Japan's Reply to Roose-
vets Note Made Public.

epoch-making meeting to be held be-
tween the plenipotentiaries of Russia
and Japan to discuss means of ending
ihe war, as Russia tentatively express
- 1t, has received name. In dis
patches to Europe from the embassies
and legations here it is briefly termed
the Washington conference"
The announcement of the selection
of Washington as the scene of the
peace-making has caused practically
the entire diplomatic corps to suspend
indefinitely Its programme for the sum-
mer. Despite the reiteration Of both
belligerents that they propose to nego-
tiRte directly with one another, the
European powers are preparing to fol-
low each step Of the negotiations as
elosely and as intelligently as cautious
and reserved plenipotentiaries will per-
init, and to do this the European en-
yoys must be on the ground. The in
formal announcement in the white
house that II after converting the confer
enee here the plenipotentiaries were
oppressed by the heat, they would
probably adjourn to some watering
place in New England, has aroused the
hopes Of the ENJOYS Of the neutral
powers that such will be the decision.
Plans Are Disarranged.
Among the diplomats whose plans
probably will be disarranged by the
coming conference are NJ. Jusserand,
the French ambassador, who, If he
goes to France this month as he had
planned, must return in time for the
conference; Baron Speck Won Stern
burg, who has planned to spend his
leave in Germany, and Sir Mortimer
Durand, the British ambassador, who
already had closed his embassy here,
when the preliminary negotiations
necessitated his return from Lenox.
II the conference does not convene I'M
til September some of the diplomats
will make brief visits to Europe, mainly
for the purpose Of getting in touch
with the views of their respective gov
ernments.
This will not be the. first time the
diplomatic corps has been kept in
Warrington in the summer because OF
important negotiations. The prelim-
mary peace negotiations Immediately
after the war with Spain and the
Boxer Troubles and subsequent nego-
.tiations IN the GUNNER Of 1900 demon
sstrated to them the midsummer con-
ditions here.
Diplomats Active.
! Diplomatic activity in the last few
weeks has exceeded the record estab-
1ished during tbs Venezuelan negotia-
tions in the winter Of 1903 and has re-
called wildly the scenes Immediately
following the ending Of the war with
Spain. There have been conferences
at the white house morning, afternoon
and evening, the subject of peace nego-
fiations naturally taking precedence
over all other official business at the
executive Offices. Not only has the
president ssnt frequently for various
diplomats Interested directly or indi.
rectly in the question, but small cir
Gle Of diplomats, including Count Cas-
sini, the Russian ambassador, and Mr..
Takahira, the Japanese minister; Bar
on Speck Won Sternburg, the German
ambassador: M. Jusserand, the French
ambassador; Sir Mortimer Durand, the
British ambassador. and Baron Mayor
des Planches, the Italian ambassador,
have called at the white house at all
hours of the day and until II O'Clock
ut night to discuss peace the president
giving q great deal of his time to the
question. In this way the white house
is informed daily not only of what
Japan wishes Russia to know and vice
versa, but OF the views and suggestions
4of European capitals generally.
Next TO the belligerents themselves
Germany has shown the most keen in
ierest in the selection of a place for
the negotiations. From the outset she
has both here and at st. Petersburg
end Toxic exercised powerful Influence
10 get the negotiators to Washington.
It WAS the emperor's belief that only
IN Washington would the negotiators
be free from the unsolicited interior
Anes Of neutral powers.
Choose Peace Leaders.
II was learned Friday authoritativeIy
that II. Nelidoff, the Russian ambassa-
dor to Paris, will be one of the plenipe-
tentiaries OF the st. Petersburg govern.
msnt and that Marquis Ito probably
will bs the principal representative OF
Japan. ltos selection is certain, pro-
yided that his health will permit him to
participate in the treaty negotiations.
M. Nelidoff is one Of the most eminent
diplomatists in the service of Russia
and has the confidence of Emperor Mich
plas to remarkable degree. He has an
extensive knowledge of both European
and oriental politics and long expert
ence as Russian leader and diplo-
mafist.
Text of Japan's Reply.
The following is the text of the Jap
anese reply to President Roosevelt's
identical note to Japan and Russia on
the subject of negotiations for peace:
The imperial government have given
to the suggestions of the president Of the
United States, embodied in the note
handed to the minister for foreign al.
fairs by the United States minister on
kne Stn instant, very serious considera-
Zion, to which, because of its source and
Its import. It is Justly entitled. Desir-
ing, In the interest Of the world as well
AS In the interest of Japan, the reestab-
lislment Of peace with Russia on terms
and conditions that will fully guarantee
its stability, the imperial government
will, in response to the suggestion of tho
president, appoint plenipotentiaries OF
Japan to meet the plenipotentiaries OF
Russia at such time and place as may be
found to be mutually agreeable and
convenient. for the purpose OF negotiat-