Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-17
Foreigners Have Styled L
Washington Conference.
Plans Of Entire Diplomatic Corps
at the Capital Upset
As All viii Of Course Follow Closely Pro-
gress Of Peace Negotiations.

| Washington. June 1s.-AIready the
epoch-making meeting to be held be-
tween the plenipotentiaries Of Russia
and Japan to discuss means of ending
the war. as Russia tentatively express
es 1t, has received a name. In dis
patches to Europe from the embas sies
| and legations here 1t is briefly termed
| THE Washington Conference
The announcement Of the selection OF
Washington as the scene oe the peace
making has caused practically the en-
| tire diplomatic corps to suspend indeh-
nitely its program for the summer.
Despite the reiteration Of both belliger-
ents that they propose to negotiate d.
rectly with one another. the European
powers are preparing to follow each
step Of the negotiations as closely and
as intelligcntly as cautious plenipoten-
tiaries will permit, and to do this the
European ENJOYS must be on tho
ground. The informal announcement
from the White House that If aftes
converting the conference here the
plenipotentiaries were oppressed by the
heat, they would probably adjourn to
some watering place in New England.
has aroused the hopes OF the ENJOYS
of the neutral powers that such wilt
be the decision. -'-'"
Among the diplomats whose plans
will probably be disarranged by the
coming conference are NJ. Jusserand,
the French ambassador, who, II he
goes to France this month as he had
planned. must return in time for the
conference; Baron Speck Won Stern
burg. who has planned to spend his
leave in Germany and Sir Mortimer
Durand, the British ambassador, who
had already closed his embassy here
when the preliminary negotiations nee
| essitated his return from Lenox II
the conference does not convene until
September some of The diplomats viii
make brief visits to Europe mainly for
the purpose Of getting in touch with
the views Of their respective govern
ments.
This will not be the first time the
diplomatic corps has been kept in
Washington in the summer because OF
important negotiations. The prelimin-
airy peace negotiations Immediately at
ter the war with Spain and the Boxer
troubles and subsequent negotiations in
the summer of 1900 demonstrated to
them the midsummer condition here.
Diplomatic activity In the past few
weeks has exceeded tine record estab-
lished during the Venezuelan negotfa-
tions in the winter Of 1903 and has re-
called wildly the scenes Immediately
following the ending Of the war with
Spain. There have been conferences at
the White House between the President
and various diplomats. morning. after
noon and evening. In this way the
White House is informed daily not only
Of what Japan wishes Russia to know
and vice versa but OF the views and
suggestions Of European capitals gen.
orally. "--
Ambassador Cassini and Minister
Takahira have been under a remark
able strain. Cablegrams reach them at:
almost all hours of the day and night
and must be deciphered Immediately.
Each move here has to be put into
cipher and sent to their respective gov
crnments and all this must be done be-
tween the incessant calls of diplomats
and other callers who have to be seen.
All this has weighed heavily on these
two men, because both are under the
care of physicians and both were some
time ago ordered to leave Washington
for rest and change.
There is keen interest in the corps
over the possibility Of a meeting OF
Count Cassini and Mr.. Takahira prior
to the arrival of the regular plenipo-
tentiaries. 1t is believed that the int
tial meeting between these ENJOYS in
case one is decided upon. will be at the
White House. where the presence Of the
President will avail to mitigate embar-
rassment.
Next to the belligcrcnts themselves
Germany has shown the most keen in
terest in the selection Of a peace for
the negotiations. From the outset she
has both here and at st. Petersburg
and Toxic exerted powerful influence
to get the negotiators to Washington. !,
CONTINUED on Pare Two.l Al