Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-10
Executive Suggests to Both That Further
Hostilities Are Useless.
NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECT
He Offers to Arrange Time and Place Of
Meeting OF Commissioners,
POWERS ARE SUPPORTING ROOSEVELT
All Ambassadors at Russian Capital
Inform Gar that Their COun-
tries Think War should
Now lie Ended.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-when PresS>
dent Roosevelt left Washington today on
a two days trip to Virginia, he was con-
tident that the result of the international
negotiations for peace in the far east had
been successful and that the final blow
in the Russo-Japauese war had been
struck. So deeply interested is he in bring
ing the two belligerent nations to "a COM
mon understanding that he would not have
left the White House at the time when
the situation was SO delicate, unless he had
obtained assurances that his efforts to
bring Russia and Japan into contact in an
amcable spirit, had been successfully con-
cluded.
While extreme reticence is manifested
in every official and diplomatic quarter, 1t
is known authortatively that the negotia-
tions which have been in progress for the
last ten days between the Washington
government and the powers of the world.
including the two belligerent nations, have
been successful to an unexpected degree.
President Roosevelt, who has taken the
lead in the negotiations, has been accorded
the cordial support of the great continen-
tai powers, including Russias nearest
friend, France. The direct representations
made through Ambassador Meyer at st.
petersburg TO tne CLaf were received Dy
Emperor Nicholas in a most friendly spirit.
Toxic responded in an equally amicable
way SO near are the two warning powers
to amicable contact at this moment that
in all Washington circles, official and diplo-
matte, mere hopefulness has given way to
notable optimism
1t is not unlikely that within forty-eight
hours definite statement of the situation
may be issued from st. Petersburg, Toxic
or Washington, which will throw clear
light on it. 1t can be said that only Toxic
remains yet to be heard from regarding a
phase of the negotiations. That the re-
sponse of the mikado's government will be
favorable no doubt is entertained.
An identical note, the text of which, by
authority of the president, was made pub
lie late tonight at the White House by
Secretary Loeb, has been forwarded to the
governments of Russia and Japan by Pres
ident Roosevelt. In the interest OF hui
manity the president urges the warning ma
tions to conclude peace It is suggested
by the president that the negotiations for
peace be conducted directly and eXclu-
sively'' between the belligerent nations.
The note indicates the presidents belief
that an intermediary may not be neces-
sary to effect conclusive negotiations, but
| likewise expresses the presidents willing
ness to do all that he properly may do
to promote the preliminary arrangements
for time and place for the meeting of
representatives of the Russian and Japa-
nese governments.
! Text of the Note.
| The text Of the note follows:
The president feels that the time ha.
| come when in the interest of all mankind
! he must endeavor to see If ii is not possible
! to bring to an end the terrible and lament
! able conflict now being waged. With Rus.
! herted ties of friendship and goodwill. II
| 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 thC
! Russian and Japanese governments moi
| only for their own saltes. but in the inter
| est of the whole civilized world to oper
other. The president suggests that these
peace negotiations be conducted directly
and exclusively between the belligerents; II
other words. that there may be meeting
of Russian and japanese plenipotentarie'
or delegates, without any intermediary II
order to see If it is not possible for thes'
representatives of the two powers 10 agree
to terms of peace. The president earnestly
asks that the Russian and Japanese govern
| ments do now agree TO such meeting anC
| Is asking the Russian and Japanese gov
ernments likewise to agree. While th
| president does not feel that any interme
diary should be called in in respect to tn
peace negotiations themselves, he is en-
tirely willing to do what he properly cal
If the powers concerned feel that his serv
ices will be of aid in arranging the pre-
liminaries as to the time and place g
can be arranged directly between the tw
powers, or in any way, the president will
be glad, as his sole purpose is to brini
about meeting which the whole civiliZe
world will pray may result in peace.
Both Sides willing.
The foregoing note was forwarded to tn
Russian and Japanese governments yes
terday afternoon. 1t is rendered especially
significant by the fact that it was pre-
pared and sent only after assurances ha
been received from Toxic and ST. Peters
burg that such proposition would be wei
coined. While both Count Cassni. tn
Russian ambassador and Minister TAXA
hira of Japan were Cognizant of the natur
of the note, IT was not sent TO their re
spective governments through them.
was cabled by direction Of the presiden
to ST. Petersburg and Toxic and there de
livered directly to the Russian and Japa
nese governments respectively by Ambas
sador Meyer and Minister Griscom.
In addition to the assurances receive
by President Roosevelt from Ambassado
Meyer, after his audience with the czal
and from Minister Griscom, who had con
ferred with the mikados government. tn
president had indicated to the representa-
tives of the two governments at this cap
: tai his intention. lie also discussed tn
! subject with representatives Of other i'm
| portant powers accredited TO this capita
While no intimation OF the attitude as
sumed toward the proposition by eithe
Ambassador Cassini or Minister Takahir
! Is obtained, II is known that other diDlc
, mats with whom the president conferre
cordially endorsed his intention.
Decisive step Toward Peace.
A formal reply to the note may not be r.
ceved for several days, but, as alread
' made clear, informal assurances that
, would be welcomed are already at han'
In view OF the significant character OF II
doeument and OF the attitude toward