Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-04
And Party Guests Of Rus
STA at St. Petersburg.
The Rossia Makes Official
Statement Regarding Visit.
No Truth In Rumor Of American
Base on Russian Soil.

st. Petersburg, Dec. 3.-William II.
Taft, the American secretary of war,
and the members of his party arrived
here today from Moscow. The visitors
were met at the railroad station by a
deputation of officers representing the
minister Of war, the military governor
and other officials of st. Petersburg.
Immediately after his arrial at the
hotel, the secretary started on round
of Official calls. He went first to see
Foreign Minister Iswelsky and General
Rudiger, the minister Of war, and then
called upon the grand dukes at present
living here These include Nicholas
Nicholaievitch. Alexander Michaelo-
witch and a half dozen others.
The carriages of the American en-
bassy in which the secretary drove
while paying his calls. were recognized
everywhere. Crowds gathered. in spite
of the threatening weather and "Gen-
eral Taft" as the secretary has come
to be called here, was cheered again
and again.
Owing to the extraordinary rumors
in circulation here regarding the ma
ture of his mission. the visit of Secre-
tary Taft has aroused the liveliest in
terest The Rossia, however, makes an
effor: 10 correct these wrong impress
sions The Rossia is the official organ
of the government. In extending to
Secretary Taft ''an open door Russian
welcome" the paper says:
1.-THE high position and the personal
merits of Secretary Taft explain the
heartiness of his reception and that
the honor of an audience of the En-
peror but it is a mistake to suppose
that Mr.. Taft's visit is in any way con-
nected with a change in the internal
policy of Russia. There is not a word
of truth in the rumors that we are TO
give base for an American fleet at
VlaGivostok or any other Pacific port.
but the visit of Secretary Taft will re-
rev and strengthen the old bonds OF
sympathy between Russia and Amer
lea"
Mr. Taft is expected to allude to the
rumors in a speech at the banquet to be
given him this evening by the members
of the American colony Of this city. he
will then give them American denial.
The Empress of Russia is irdisposed
and probably will not be able to receive
Mrs. Taft tomorrow. consequently the
secretary will go to Tsarskoe-Selo alone.
Tomorrow evening the secretary will at
tend a banquet at Foreign Minister Is
wolsky's which will be followed ty q big
reception of the diplomatic corps and
Russian official society.
Secretary Taft probably will be forced
to go to Roulogne to catch the steamer
President Grant en- which he returns to
the United States. The President Grant
leaves Hamburg Dec. and Boulosne
Dec 8. this giving him a day longer.
Mrs. Taft accompanied by Mrs. George
P. Wheeler wife Of the second secretary
so from here to Vienna and Paris. She
will return to the United States several
weeks after her husband.
When questioned regarding the Presi.
dental situation in the United States,
Sec. Taft requested to be excused from
expressing any opinion. He said he had
announced year ago his readiness to ac-
cept the nomination III case it was given
to him and that his attitude had not
changed since
Secretary Taft and the members of his
suite visited the Duma this forenoon.
Baron Ostensachen met the party at the
portice of the Tauride palace and con-
Quoted them to one of the imperial boxes
directly opposite the Speaker. Premier
Stolypin, Minister of War Rudiger and
other members of the cabinet were in
their usual places. Several diplomats who
formerly had been stationed in Washing
ton entered the box to pay their re-
spects to the secretary. Secretary Taft
was impressed with the spaciousness and
the magnificence Of the chamber. which
was brilliantly illuminated. The session
was not marked by any special disturb
ance.
The news of the presence of Secretary
Taft in the chamber spread quickly until
finally the attention OF practically every
body in the House. members of the min
istry, senators. diplomatists, newspaper
| correspondents and deputies, was senter-
ed on the imperial box.
The secretary and his party remained
| for half an hour.