Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-12
For Success Of Presi-
dents Peace 0vertures.
But France Regrets She Has
Very unimpoItant Part.
The President and Uaited States Teach
Europe Lesson Number -Four.

l uIlS julie 11.-freS1uenC ROOSeVeII
success in opening preliminaries fol
negotiations for peace between Russia
and Japan is the absorbing theme here
and France has forgotten her own
troubles with Germany over Morocco
to join in Enthusiastic approval Of the
american initiative. Portraits of Pres
ident Roosevelt, Ambassador Meyer
Minister Takahira and Ambassador
Cassini appear in all the journals, with
pictures of the White House as the
scene Of historic origin of the peace
| ,nivement. Without exception COM
ment on President ROosevelt's action is
favorable, with the expression of a
slight sense of disappointment that
| France, the ally of Russia, has not
| taken more prominent part in effect
| ing the preliminaries.
Baron Rosen, the new Russian Am
bassador to the United States, who ar
| rived here. last night, on his way to
Washington and whose name is men,
| toned as the probable peace plenipo-
tertiary, was seen, by The Associated
press and said:
Il have arranged to sail for the
United States, June %, on the North
German Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm
Der Crosse with my family. Il observe
in, the press the use CT my name as
the probabl peace plenipotentiary, but
that is wholly without my authority
or knowledge"
Beyond the foregoing, Baron Rosen
would not discuss the question of peace
or war or the part he might take in
the negotiations. The departure Of the
ambassador from st. Petersburg APP
pears to have been before Russia
reached 4 final determination to ac-
cept the American proposition. Should
he De delegated to act as plenipoten-
tiary it will be months before he ar
rives at Washington.
Baron D'Estournelles Deconstant
former president of the Parliamentary
group in the Chamber of Deputies, fav-
oring international arbitration. gave
The Associated Press an authorized in
terview in which he severely arraigned
the action Of the European powers and
applauds President Roosnvelt's initia-
tive. The baron had Just received q
declining to take the initiative for
peace. The baron said:
1.-The United States has again given
hestitating Europe n wholesome ex-
ample. All Europe ardently desired
peace. yet allowed the war to go on
without comprehending what immense
service it could render the belligerents
in taking the initiative for peace.
which neither of them could be the
first to take.
president Roosevelt has already
given four such striking lessons to
Europe: First, in having brought be-
fore the arbitration tribunal at The
Hague the question between Mexico
and the United Stares over the Plus
fund claims while Europe was soothing
at TIE peace court which 1t had Great
cd: second, in obliging Europe to set
tie practically the Venezuela affair;
third, In proposing a second peace con-
ference at The Hague TO complete the
work of the first. and, fourth. in now
intervening to put to an end the heca-
tombs of the Far East.
THE conclusion of this is plain. AL
though the European governments
have morally lost through their timidi-
ty the government of the United States
has gained. 1t is another good example
for Europe Of Americas energy in
safeguarding the most sacred rights of
humanity"
The Temps. tonight. says:
1t might have been thought that
that France could have played the
great role which has fallen to the Unit
ed States, but circumstances otherwise
decided. France can, however, rejoice
in the success Of her sister republic
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