Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-04
TAFT SEES THE GAR
c[
Visits Douma and Is impressed < With It's Spaciousness.
CALLS ON THE GRAND DUKES
Denies That His Trip Had Anything . to Do With Prospective War In the
 Far East-WiIi Sail From BouIosne
 Instead of Hamburg. '''

 Far East-WiII Sail From BouIosne Instead of Hamburg. '''s
 St. Petersburg, Dec. 4.-William H. Taft, the American secretary of war, had an audience with the emperor to- day. This. evening he will attend dinner and reception at Foreign Min ister Iswolsky's. -
 On the eve of his meeting with the czar, which has given rise to much anxiety among the statesmen of Flu rope, Mir. Taft took occasion to state emphatically that he was not engaged on diplomatic mission for the United States. He especially denied that his trip had anything to do with a pros- pective war in the far east.
 Visits Grand Dukes.
 The American secretary of war and l the members of his party arrived ill | this city from Moscow. The visitors were met at the railroad station by deputation of officers representing the minister of war, the military governor and other officials of St. Petersburg. Among those at the station were Count Konitz, who has been appointed i'm perial aid to Secretary Taft during his stay in St. Petersburg. The secretary and his party took up their quarters in the Hotel de rEurope.
 Immediately after his arrival at the hotel the secretary, accompanied by Brigadier General Clarence R. Ed wards, Montgomery Schuyler, Jr., the American charge d'affaires, and Cap tain S. l.. H. Slocum, the American military attache at St. Petersburg, started on a round of official calls. He went first to see Foreign Minister Iswolsky and General Rudiger, the n mister of war, and then called upon the grand dukes who are at present living here These include Nicholas Nicholaievitch, Alexander Michaelo- witch and half dozen others.
 Visits the Douma.
 Secretary Taft probably will be fore ed to go to Boulogne to catch the steamer President Grant. on which he
 returns to the United States. The President Grant leaves Hamburg on
 Dec and Boulogne on Dec g. This
 will give him day longer.
 Secretary Taft and the members of his suit visited the douma at late
 hour. Baron Ostensachen met the par
 ty at the portico of the Taurida 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. Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, an author, who opportunely was present fin the palace, joined Secretary Tafts party and acted as interpreter of the speeches. He pointed out also the leading members of the douma. Secre' tary Taft was impressed with the spaciousness and the magnificence of the chamber.
 . Urqes World Peace. A plea for world peace was the topic , of speech delivered by Secretary . Taft at the American banquet here which was attended by several high Russian officials, in addition to some sixty Americans.
 Responding to the speech of welcome delivered by F. NJ. Corse, who pre- ! sided. Secretary Taft said that he hop ed the traditional friendship between Russia and America would increase . and become stronger. Personally the ,, secretary had strong feeling of af lection and regard for Russia on ac . count of the two years residence oi his father there as American minister.