Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-12-30
ROOSEVELT WILL
CAUSE A SURPRISE.

| According to gossip in Washington
new light of surprising kind will
be thrown on the negotiations proceed
| ing the close of the Russo-Japenese
war in series of papers now in pre-,
paration by Ex-President Theodore
Roosevelt. The papers, which will be
published in a magazine, will be IN
the form of an autobiography. Natur-
ally, this will be devoted in large mea-
sure to the private side of public
events, and one chapter will tell in
terssting things about the Portsmouth
peace conference between the Russian
and Japanese diplomats.
1t has long been known that TIE war
brough Japan almost to the verge OF
bankruptcy, but the general opinion
has prevailed that after the severe de-
feats at Port Arthur and along the
Yalu river it was the Russians who
sued for peace. But as Colonel Roose-
welt will tell the story, it was the vic
torious Japanese who took tn: first
step to end the war. The off:r of
this government to assist in termln-
ating hostilities came not on the sug-
gestion of Russia but at the direct re-
quest Of Japan.
Colonel Roosevelt has at his dis
posal documentary proof of the ac-
count of the peace negotiations. Most
striking of the papers that he will
bring forward is personal letter
from the late Mikado to Presldant
Roosevelt, asking him to open way
for peace negotiations. The text OF
this letter will be printed in the
Portsmouth chapter and it is expected
to produce sensation in Japan. 1t Is
recalled that the terms finally accept
ed by Japan were bitterly resented by
the japanese people, and it is thought
that the publication now Of letter
from the Mikado almost intercedlng
for peace. will revive old feeling
against the government, if not against
,tha throne.
During the Russian war Baron ko-
goro Takahira was Japanese minister
to the United States, and he became
one of the Japanese peace envoys to
the Portsmouth conference. Presum-
ably he presented the emperor's let
ter to President Roosevelt that
brought about the conference Viscount
Aoki thsn came to this country on the
part of the Japanene ambassador.
In official circles there has long been
a story-ncver before published--that
the viscount's most important mission
to Washington was the recovery of the
text of the Emperor's letter t. Pres
ident Roosevelt. In that purpose, how
ever, he failed.
In his stay in Washington many i'm
oortant events took place. The Japan
use school controversy swept the Pa
cifc Coast, the Viscount Aoki hand
led the situation admirably. About
that time the American battleships
sailed around the world, touching at
Japanese ports. In these incidents the
ambassadors ability was fully display
ed. But without any warning he was
recalled because, the diplomats be-
iieve. he, could not induce President
Roosevelt to return the letter. How
ever that may be, the Viscount reach
I'd Yokohoma in obedience to a sum-
mons to counsel without knowing that
disgrace awaited him. He was met by
an imperial functionary, and his own
confidence in his good fortune was so
evident that not until the train was
within few minutes of Tokyo did the
functionary force himself to tell the
ambassador that he was recalled for
good. The ambassador, it is said, al
most collapsed.
The Mikad~'s determination to re-
cover the letter, it is said, explains the
reassignment of Baron Takahira to
Washington this times as ambassador
lie returned to Washington in FebrE-
airy. 1908. about a year before Presl-
dent Rooseveit's term expired, and he
was one of the last to leave the ex-
president when he boarded. tn train
chat took him back to private life. But
he did not get the letter. And in Sep
tember, 1909, he was recalled to ia
pan to receive domestic honors.