The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-13

Washington, June 9.-An IDENTICAL
note, the text Of which, by authority
Of the President, was made public late
tonight at the White House by Secre-
tary Loeb, has been forwarded to he
governments of kussia and Japan by
President Roosevelt. IN the interest
OF humanity the President urges he
warning nations TO conclude peace 1t
is suggested ty the President that the
negotiations for peace he conducted
directly and exclusively" between the
belligerent nations. The Presidents
note indicates his belief that an inter
mediary may not be necessary to Ct
feet conclusive negotiations, but like
wise expresses the Presidents viii
.1nsness 10 do all that he properly may
DO &c promote The preliminary ar
raDgSmentS Tor I time and place OF
the meeting OF rep SentativeS of he
Russian and japanese governments.
The following IS TIE text of he dis
patch as given out:
"On June Sth the following dispatch
was Slut Wy the fItSlueUI, through
diplomatic channels, to the Japanese
and Russian governments:
The President feels that the time
has come when IN the interests of all
mankind he must endeavor to see if it
is not possible 10 bring to an end the
terrible and lamentable conflict now be-
ing waged. With both Russia and ia
pan the United States has inherited
+;~~ - 49, -~ lii
hopes for the prosperity and welfare
Of each, and it feels that the progress
OF the world is set back by the wal
between these two great nations. The
President accordingly urges the Rus
sian and japanese governments, not
only for their own sakes, but in the
interests OF the whole civilized world,
t open direct negotiations for peace
with one another. The President sug-
gests that these peace negotiations be
conducted directly and exclusively DC
tween the belligerents; in other words
that there may be a meeting of Rus
sian and japanese plenipotentiaries or
delegates, without any intermediary,
in order to see if it is not possible for
these representatives of the two pow
ers to agree as to terms of peace. The
President earnestly asks that the
(Russian), Japancse9 government do
now agree to such a meeting, and is
asking the ~Japanese), (Russian) gov
eminent likewise to agree. While The
President does not feel that informed.
larry should be called in, in respect
to the peace negotiations themselves
he is entirely wiling to do what he
can properly If the two powers con-
cerned feel that his services will &c
Of aid in arranging the preliminarics
as TO the time and place of meeting
But if even these preliminaries can be
arranged directly between the two
rowers.or N any other way,then tho
President will be glad as his sole pur-
pose is TO bring o a meeting which
the whole civilized world will pray MAJ
esult in peace.
The foregoing note was forwarded
to the Russian and Japanese govern
ments yesterday afternoon. 1t is rem
dered especially significant 10y thef fact
that it vas prepared and sent only at
ter assurances had been received, both
from Toxic. and st. Petersburg, that
such a proposition would be welcomed
While both Count Cassini, the Russian
ambassador. and Minister Takahira. OF
japan. were cogniZant of the nature OF
the note. it was not sent TO their re-
spective governments through them. 1t
was cabled by direction of the Presi-
dent to st. Petersburg and TO Toxic,
III then delivered directly TO the Rus
sian and Japanese governments, re
spectively, by Ambassador Meyer ana
Minister Griscom.
\ formal reply TO the note may not
he received for several days. BIT as al
ready made clear, informal assurances
thai it would be welcomed already are
at hand. In view of the signincant
character OF the document and OF the
attitude toward il which both RUSSIA
and JaaDn have assumed, 1t is regard
: ed. i'm official and diplomatic circles as
the first firm and decisive step toward
ultimate peace.
When President Roosevelt left
Washington today on 81 two days trip
TO Virginia. lie was confident that the
result of the international negotiations
for peace in the far east had been sue
cessful. and that the final blow in the
Russo-Japanese war had been struck
So near are he two warning powers to
amicahle contact at this moment that
in all Washington circles. official and
diplomatic, mere h~opefulness has given
|. way to notable optimism