The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-04
Gar OF ALL THE
RUSS|A'S GREETS
SEC. TAFT
RUSSIANS CHEER GENERAL y
Declares at American Banquet That
Uncle Sam 10 Friendly Toward All
the World.

the World.
st. PETERSBURG, Dec. 4.-secre-
tary Taft was received In audience by
the emperor or Russia here today. He
was introduced by Foreign Minister
Iswolsky and General Rudiger, minis
ter of war. and greeted by the grand
dukes now here. These include Nicho-
las Nicholaievitch, Alexander Michaelo-
witch and half dozen others.
The carriages of the American EN-.
bassy, in which the secretary aud the
party drove to the palace, were recog-
nized everywhere. Crowds gathered
in spite Of the threatening weather,
and General Taft" as the secretary
has come to be called here, was cheer.
ed again and again.
The empress of Russia is indisposed
and was not able to receive Mrs. Taft,
consequently the secretary went 10
Tsarskoe-Selo without his wife This
evening the secretary WIN attend a
banquet at Foreign Minister Iswol-
sky's, which will be followed by a re-
ception of the diplomDtic corps and
Russian official society.
A plea for world peace was the topic
of speech delivered by Secretary Taft
at the American banquet here last
night, which was attended by several
high Russian officials in addition to
some sixty Americans.
Responding to the speech of welcome
delivered by i. ~ Corse, who presid-
ed, Secretary Taft said that he hoped
the traditional friendship between Rus
STA and America would increase and
become stronger The similarity in
the development of the two countries,
he said, ought to produce sympathet-
&c feeling, and he drew a parallel be-
tween Russia and America with refer
ence to their immense extent and the
difficulties arising therefrom.
Personally the secretary had a strong
feeling of affection and regard for Rus
sia on account of the two years resi-
dence of his father there as American
minister.
His present trip, he said, had given
rise to number of suggestions, the
purport of which was far from the
truth. 1t had been suggested that he
was rounding the world on diplomat
lie mission to various countries to car
~ out some ultimate policy of the
United States but Americas only pol
Icy was the peace of all nations. His
only official function, he continued,
was that connected with the Inaugural
ton of the Philippine assembly, and
he was returning home by way of Rus
STA to avoid the voyage across the Pa
cifc, which he had already. made many
times. He sought an audience with
the emperor in order to express his
personal gratitude for the hospitality 1
which he had enjoyed on his trans
siberian trip and to assure him that a .
deep desire exists on the part of the
Americans for the welfare and pros
perity of Russia.
The secretary declared that intima-
ITEMS that his trip was connected in
any way with prospective war in the
Gar east were without foundation. In
his Judgment there was no possibility
Of war between the United States and
any country, nor was there any reason
Cor it. The world needs peace for Its
real growth and the happiness of the
Individual
Civilization, said the secretary is in
Asbtsd to Emperor Nicholas for the
Initiation Of international efforts for a
permanent peace and the mitigation Of
war by the organization of The Hague
conference. At the conclusion of his
speech he toasted the emperor.
Count Konitz, who is acting as i'm
perial aid to Secretary Taft, responded
with toast to President Roosevelt
which was drunk amid great enthu-
biasm and the singing of the national
hymns of both countries.
The secretary visited the douma,
where he was an object of great atten-
ton on the part of Premier Stolypin
and the other ministers.
when questioned regarding the presl-
tsntial situation in the United States
Mr.. Taft requested to be excused from
expressing any opinion.
He said he had announced a year
40 his readiness to accept the nominal
Mon. in case 1t was given to him and
that hH attitude had net changed since.
Count Kenitz has been appointed by
the czar imperial aid to Secretary Taft
Surfing his stay In St Petersburg. The
American party are at the Hotel de
i'Europe. y
Immediately upon his arrival at the |