New-York tribune., 1905-08-30
THE PRESIDENTS WORK.
Continued from first page

At the end of last May. when the two enor-
nous armies in Manchuria had been facing each
other for months without striking a blow and
promptly upon the annihilation of Rojestven-
sky's fleet, President Roosevelt determined
that the world should no longer endure the
shameful. useless slaughter, and that Russia
ought to be brought to realize the hopelessness
OF resistance in the face of her unbroken chain
OF defeats. Conversations with Kogoro Taxa
Mira. the japanese Minister, who was frequently
social visitor at the White House, convinced
the President that. while Japan would forego
further punishment to Russia her terms would
be extremely hard but 50 just that she was not
afraid to discuss them before the world and
let her place among civilized nations be judged
by frank discussion of her demands and those
of the Car
Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador was
finally called to the White House on Friday
June = and urged to represent to his master the
Presidents earnest hope for peace There were
numerous conferences in diplomatic circles in
every capital on the globe during the next three
or four days. Excitement was at the highest
pitch but everywhere except in Washington the
prospect was regarded with excessive pessimism.
Here the British and French and Italian Am
bassadors were called on to induce their govern
ments to use every pacific influence on the Gar
At last, one week later. President Roosevelt
thrilled civilization by deliv ring through Ameri-
lean diplomatic channels 1t ST. Petersburg and
Toxic the following memo rabe message whi
he simultaneously sent to all rulers. and gave
to the world through the newspapers:
The President feels that the time has come
when, in the interest of all mankind he must
endeavor to If it is not possible to bring to
an end the terrible and iamentable conflict now
being waged. With both Russia and Japan the
United States has inherited ties OF frieudsh D
and good will 1t hopes for the prosper ty aid
welfare of each. and it feels that the pro- S
OF the WORD is set back by the war -etwesn
these two great nations. The President accord
tngly, urges the Russian and Japanese gov ern-
ments not only for their own sakes but in the
interest Of the whole civilized world to open
direct negotiations for peace with one another
The President suggests that these peace nego-
uations be conducted directly and exclusively
between the belligerents; in other words that
there may be a meeting of Russian and jap
anese plenipotentiaries or delegates without nv
intermediary. In order to see if it is possible
for these representatives OF the two powers to
agree to terms of peace.
The President earnestly asks that the Russian
(Japanese) government do now agree to such
meeting, and is asking the japanese CRussian)
government likewise 10 agree. While the Presi-
dent does not feel that any intermediary should
be called in. in respect TO the peace negotia-
tons themselves. he is entirely willing to do
what he properly If the two powers con-
| cerned feel that his services will be of aid in
arranging the preliminaries as to the time asi
can be arranged directly between the two
powers. or in any other way the President will
be glad as his sole purpose is to bring about
meeting which the whole civilized world will
pray may result in peace
The day before this was published The Tribune
was able to declare positively the confidence of
the President that the war was over and the
day following the reception of the note at Toxic
the authoritative declaration was made in these
dispatches that hostilities had been tacity
pended pending a meeting Of plenipotentiaries
in the United States TO agree on terms of per-
manent peace Nevertheless the prevailing be-
lief almost everywhere abroad was that peace
would not
JAPAN'S COMPLIANCE.
This only partially dispened a week later
when. on June 16, Minister Takahira published
the text of Japans compliance with the Presi-
dents wishes follows:
The imperial government have given TO the
suggestion of the President of the United States,
embodied in the note handed to the Miniser Of
Foreign Affairs by the United States Minister
August 8, very serious considerations, to which,
because Of its source and its import. it is justly
entitled. Desiring, in the interest Of the world
as well as in the interest OF Japan, the re-
establishment Of peace with Russia terms
and conditions that will fully guarantee it's
stability, the imperial government will, in re-
sponse TO the suggestion of the President, ap-
point plenipotentlarles OF Japan TO meet the
plenipotentiaries of Russia at such time and
place may be found to be mutually agreeable
and convenient for the purpose Of negotiating
and concluding terms of peace directly and ex-
Clusively between the two belligerent powers.
Russia's acquiescing reply had already reached
President Roosevelt. but coupled with request
that it's terms should he withheld from pub
licity, e contrast that was Immediately seized
on as a sure indication that Russia insin-
cere. was merely seeking to gain time and
going to profit by antiquated diplomatic meth
DDS. inconsistent with the fair. square" sort
practised by Mr.. Roosevelt. The text Of the
Russian note has not been published to this
day.
Spurred on by the urgent representations OF
the President, Russia and Japan agreed on July
10 to meet in the first ten days of August,
washington having been selected as the meet
ing place after Japan had refused TO go To
Paris and Russia had declined to consider Che
Foo However on July 10 the President deter
mined that Washington was not only unseasOn-
able, but that the plenipotentiares could not
be insured here the privacy which es-
sential. so he fixed on the naval stores building
in the Portsmouth Navy Yard as the best place
for the sessions.
PESSIAIISM FOLLOWS OPTIMISM
Then Theodore Roosevelt. the man, went off
to hunt wolves and bears for six weeks in the
West while the world went on discussing the
prospects of enduring peace. the personnel of
the plenipotentiaries, and even the probable
terms. To The majority of intelligent thinkers
the outlook was regarded with optimism but as
the date of meeting approached. the Russian
press. inspired by the bureaucracy. became more
warlibe, and the ol6 Russian game of diplomatic
bluff was on and began TO have its effect.
Japan's probable terms began to percolate
through the newspapers every disclosure