The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-12-07
GREETED eY PREMIER AND At
TENDS SESSION OF THE
OUMA.
WILLsAIL ON THE GRANT
SECRETARY ATTENDS BANQUET
GIVEN BY AMERICAN
RESIDENTS.

St Petersburg-The American sec
rotary Of war, William H. Taft, was ac-
corded hearty welcome here Tuesday.
He arrived in ST. Petersburg in the
morning from Moscow and after
round OF Official visits and brief rest,
visited the duma, where he spent half
an hour listening TO the debate on the
ministerial declaration. He was greet
ed by the premier, NJ. Stolypin. and
other high ministers, and was made
the object OF special attention by the
deputies.
The secretary is trying to arrange
his visit here SO that he may catch The
steamer President Grant at Boulogne,
December sth. for his return home.
The carriages Of the American am
bassador, with their liveried servants,
in which the secretary drove while pay
Ing his calls, were recognized every
where. Crowds gathered in spite OF
the threatening weather. and General
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 nature
@; his mission. the visit Of Mr.. Taft has
aroused the liveliest interest and curl
osity. The Russian, the Official organ
Of the government, makes an effort to
correct these wrong impressions. In
a leading article extending to Secre-
tary Taft an open door Russian vel
come" the paper says:
The high position and the personal
merits of Secretary Taft explain the
heartiness OF his reception and the
honor of an audience with the En-
peror, but 1t is a mistake to suppose
that Mr.. Tafts visit is In any way
connected with change in the inter
national policy OF Russia. There is not
a word of truth in the rumors that we
are to give base for an American fleet
at Vladivostok or any other Pacific
pert; but the visit OF Secretary TAFT
will renew and strengthen the old
bonds OF sympathy between Russia and
America"
Secretary Taft and the members OF
HIS suite visited the duma at late
hour today. Baron Ostensachen met
the party at the portico of the palace
and conducted them to one of the i'm
perial 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 Washington entered
the box to pay their respects to the
secretary.
Sir Donald Mckenzie Wallace, the
author, who opportunely was present
in the palace. Joined Secretary Tafts
party and acted as Interpreter of the
speeches. He pointed out also the lead
Taft was impressed with the spacious.
ness and magnificence of the chamber
which was brilliantly Illuminated Dur
Ing Mr.. Tafts stay NJ. Shubinsky, an
Octoberist; NJ. Lymsh. Pole. and an
Armenian Social Democrat took turns
in speaking. The session was not
marked by any special incident.
The news OF the presence of Secre-
tary Taft in the chamber spread
quickly until finally the attention OF
practically everybody in the house
members Of the ministry, senators,
diplomats. newspaper correspondents
and deputies was centered on the I'M.
perial box.
A plea for world peace was the topic
OF speech delivered by Secretary 'Taf;
Mt the American banquet here Tuesday
night which was attended by several
high Russian officials. in addition TO
some sixty Americans.
Responding to the speech OF well
come delivered by F. NJ. Corse. who
presided, Secretary Taft said that he
hoped the traditional friendship be-
tween Russia and America would In
crease and become stronger. The sim
i!arfty in the development Of the t1o
countries, he said, ought to produce q
sympathetic feeling. and he drew a par
allel between Russia and America, with
reference to their immense extent, and
the difficulties arising therefrom. Per
sonally. the secretary had a strong feel
ing OF affection and regard for Russia,
on account OF the two years residence
Of his father there as American minis
tel.
His present trip. he said, had given
rise to a number Of suggestions, the
purport OF which was far from the
truth. 1t had been suggested that he
was rounding the world on a diplo-
mtt tic mission to various countries to
carry out some ultimate policy OF the
United States, but Americas policy
was the peace Of all nations. His only
official function. he continued was that
connected with the Inauguration Of the
Philippine assembly. and he was re-
turning home by way of Russia TO
avoid the voyage across the Pacific.
which he had already made many
times.