The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-06-15
MAKES APPEAL FOR PEACE
Presidents Note to Japan and Russia
in Interest of Humanity.
AGREEMENT TO NEGOTIATERxP
President Roosevelt Confident That Ills Efforts
to Bring The BeIIgerents Together WIN Be
SuccessiuI-The Gar Said TO Be RavQrsbIe
Negotiations Win Be Direct and Exclusive
iy Between the BelIIgerents. y

Washington (SpeciaD Pres dent
Roosevelt, through the State Depart
mcnt, sent identical notes to the Russian
and Japanese Governments, initiating the
movement for peace.
The notes were sent through Ambassa-
dor George van L. Meyer and Minister
Lloyd G. Griscom, and as soon as word
was received from both of these repre-
sentativeS that the note had been laid
before each of the two Governments
the official announcement was made at
the White House The word came first
from Ambassador Meyer and later from
Minister Griscom, the announcement be-
ing withheld until Io.I5 P. NJ, until the
American Minister to Japan notified the
State Department that ne had laid the
communication of this Government be-
fore the Japanese Government.
Secretary Loeb made the official an
nouncement as follows:
On June 8 the following dispatch
was sent by the President, through diplo-
matte channels, 10 the Japanese and
Russian Governments:
The President feels that the time
has come when in the interest Of all
mankind ne must endeavor TO see if it
Is not possible TO bring to and end the
terrible and lamentable conflict now be-
ing waged. With both Russia and ia
pan the United States has inherited ties
OF friendship and good will 1t hopes
for the prosperity and welfare of each,
and it feels that the progress of the
world is set back by the war between
these two great nations.
The President accordingly urges the
Russian and Japanese Governments, not
only for their own sakes, but in the in
terest of the whole civilized world, to
open direct negotiations for peace with
one another. The President suggests
that these peace negotiations be con-
Quoted directly and exclusively between
the belligerents. In other words, that
there may be 4 meeting of Russian and
japanese plenipotentiaries or delegates
without any intermediary, in order 10
see if it is not possible for these repre-
sentatives of the two powers to agree
to terms of peace.
The President earnestly asks that the
Russian and Japanese Governments do
now agree to such meeting. While the
President docs not feel that any inter
mediary should be called in respect to
the peace negotiations themselves, he is
entirely willing TO do what he properly
can If the two powers concerned feel
that his services will be of aid in ar
ranging the preliminaricS as 10 the time
and place of meeting. But if even these
preliminary can be arranged directly
between the two powers, or in any other
way, the President will be glad, as his
whole purpose is TO bring about meet
ing which the whole civilized world will
pray may result in peace"
The next step. if the present one be
uninterrupted, will be an armistice, fol-
lowed by direct negotiations, as sug-
gested in message sent by the Presi-
dent to Toxic and St. Petersburg. Pres
ident Roosevelt before leaving for Vir-
ginia, left instructions that the notes
were TO be given out for publication as
soon as word was received from the
American representatives at the two cap
italS that it had been transmitted to the
two sovereignS. Word came Thursday
from Ambassador Meyer that the Gar
had received his. and late Friday that
It had been submitted to the Alikado
The publication of the notes shows Off
cially that contact has been established
between ST. Petersburg ard Toxic
through Washington. 1t is also an Off
cial indication that both of tne belliger-
entS have indicated willingness to be-
gin the peace negotiations. President
RooSeveltS work, therefore, is finished
for the time being, and when he LETT
town he was removed, temporarily at
least, out of the situation. for it is the
purpose of the belligerentS themselves
to settle the terms of peace