The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-13
PLAN FOR ENDING WAR
presiden! Roosevelt Suggests Al bi.
trat;on to Russia and Japan.
ENJOY Witte, After Long Confer roncs With
Roaen, Sends Report 10 Czir-The
Toxic Cabinet COuvenes.

/ Portsmouth. N. H.--"hH question Of
peace now rests with the Car. He is
in possession of the proposal made by
President Roosevelt to Baron Rosen at
| Oyster Bay Before tile President sub
mitted his proposition to the Russian
envoy he had obtained the assent OF
the Japanese Government to the new
conditions. and. therefore, there is
nothing i'll the way. Of peace treaty
l:now except the refusal of Emperor
Nicholas to let disputed articles OF the
proposed peace agreement 80 to lie
Hague tribunal for arbitration or to
some person or persons agreed upon 20
settle the disputed points.
When President Roosevelt saw Baron
Roscn he informed him that the Toxic
Government would modify its coEdi-
tions in respect of limiting the naval
power Of Russia in the Sea of Japan
and would withdraw III part its de-
mand for the war vessels interned in
neutral harbors. The question of in
demnity and the future ownership Of
Sakhalicn Island. lie said, could very
we'll be left to The Hague tribunal, a
court practically created by the Car,
or to similar body.
This would permit the ENJOYS IN
Portsmouth to sign a treaty of peace
forthwith, postponing the settlement
of the two disputed articles, but bind
ing themselves to accept the decision
of The Hague Court. The President
informed Baron Rosen there was no
doubt of .Japan's acceptance, and,
therefore, there was no reason why
the war should continue. The Car
stood for the principle of arbitration.
and the tremendous value Of The
Hague Court could not be better proved
than in the settlement Of SO weighty
question. It Is understood that Baron
Rossn thoroughly approved the plan,
ard perceived that it would solve all
the difficulties in Portsmouth, but he
expressed his fear that the Russian
Government might decline to recog-
nizc in any way, either through arbitra>
ton or otherwise, the proposition that
Japan is entitled to reimbursement.
The feature Of the plan by President
Roosevelt, communicated through
F.. Baron Rosen to Mr.. Witte and trans
mitted by the latter TO Emperor Mich.
olas, was based upon the principle Of
arbitration Whether the proposal con-
templates arbitra ton Of: all the articles
upon which the plenipotentiarles have
failed 10 agree, or only upon the quts'
ton O. indemnity, cannot be stated with
rositivepess. but it is more than prob
able that il relates only to indemnity,
or to indemnify and the ccssion Of the
Island of Sakhalien.
Neither is it possible to say whether
the President has yet made similar
proposition to Japan. but the under
standing is that he had Japan's full
assent before he discussed the propo-
sition with Baron Rosen. The Gus
tomary diplomatic proceedings in such
case would be to submit the proposal
simultaneously to both countries, but
there might be al advantage in secur-
ING the adherence of one before submit
ting it to the other. 10 Emperor Mich
olus, the author Of The Hague peace
conference, the suggestion of arbitra-
ton, which will necessarily immediate
ly command the sympathy Of the public
opinion of the world will be partlcu-
larry hard to reject.
II lie agrees, Japan, if she has not
already done so, would be all the more
bound to submit her claim TO the de-
cision of an impartial arbitrator. Ac-
ceptance by both sides would involve
great extension Of the principle of ar
bitra ticn, as nations have heretofore
declined to arbitrate questions involv-
ing their ''honor and dignity Both
Mr.. Takabira and Mr.. Witte in the
earlier stages of the conference abso-
lutely rejected the idea Of arbitration.
It is very significant that the Japan
csc Cabinet has convened at Toxic to
consider grave and urgent matters.