Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-22
PRESIDENT Is HOPEFUL.
VIII Not Give Up Efforts for Peace
Until Every Effort Fails.

oyster Bay, N. Y, Aug. 21.-President
Roosevelt has not abandoned hope of a
successful issue of the Washington
peace conference. He has not relaxed
either. his efforts to prevent a rupture
between the conferees when they re-
convene. tomorrow aftrnoon, at Ports
mouth.
Events OF Importance succeed each
other rapidly here, today. On an early
morning train, Baron kaneko, a con-
fidcntial representative in this country
of the japanese government. arrived in
Oyster Bay quite Unexpectedly. He has
a general invitation to visit the Presi-
dent at any time and was received as
soon as he arrived at Sycamore HILL
That ne was the bearer of important in
formation is known, but the nature of
his messages is not disclosed. He re-
manned with the President three-quar-
tiers of an hour. At the conclusion of
the conference, the baron declined even
to discuss the mission. although he po-
litely expressed regret at his inability
to enlighten his interrogators.
Surrounded by half dozen of news
paper men. he talked with apparent
frankness. but his words We're not lu-
minous with information. He fenced
adroitly with his questioners. retiring
on a profession of ignorance when the
questions shot at him were too sharply
pointed.
He expressed the opinion. which he
was careful to note was simply his
own, that Japan had made every con-
cession in the conference that a victo-
rious power could be expected to make
and that the japanese people would re-
sent any serious recession by the en-
voys from the position they had taken.
Following Baron kaneko's visit, Pres
ident Roosevelt received an accumula-
ton of dispatches and letters. Late in
the day important messages We're re-
ceived from Portsmouth, the responses
to which occupied the Presidents at
tention for considerable time.
Not the slightest indication of the
character of the correspondence was
permitted to become public. The Pres
ideut, acting as an intermediary be-
tween two warning governments, feels
that secrecy is even more incumbent
upon him than if the matter related
wholly to him, personally. or to the
United States.
The President declines either 60 con-
firm or to deny any of the statements
made about the proposition which he
submitted to the Russian ENJOYS
through Baron de Rosen. There Is
strong reason for the statement. how
ever, that the proposition involved far
more than q mere suggestion that the
matters in difference between the en-
voyS be submitted to the arbitrament
of an impartial tribunal The state
ment heretofore made in these dis
patches that powerful pressure not
alone from President Roosevelt, but
from neutral powers of Europe, is be-
ing brought to bear upon the govern
mentS of Russia Japan to insure a sue
cessful issue of the conference at
Portsmouth, can be reiterated.
Whether that influence takes the
form of suggestion of a modification
of Japans terms. of an insistence that
Russia make the best bargain she can.
or of an entirely new plan to bring
about an agreement, cannot be aScer-
tanned.
No concealment is made Of the inter-
est the President feels in the action Of
the conferecs when they Shall recon-
vene, tomorrow afternoon. No intima-
ton even of the Presidents opinion of
the result of that meeting is given,
but that hope of peace yet springs from
the conditions surrounding the confer
ence is evident.