South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-25

NEW YORK, Aug. %. - Joseph
Bucklin Bishop. for 30 years per-
sonal friend OF Col. Theodore Roose-
welt. and who. five years before the
former presidents death, was COM
misioned by him Ito write the his
tory of the period which covered
his public career" presents in the
September issue of Scribner's mag
azine. the FIRST OF series of papers
which gives for the first time many
interesting sidelights on the life of
the famous American.
The paper. entitled Roosevelt
Peacmaker." selected and arranged
from the former presidents public
and private correspondence, amount
ing To more than $50. 600 letters
deals with Mr. Roosevelt's efforts to
end the war between Russia and
Japan and which resulted in the
Portsmouth Peace conference Of
1905.
Japan Made Ovcrturcs.
For the first time. apparently. is
revealed the fact that Japan made
the initial overtures for peace Four
days after the great Japanese naval
victory over ROjestvensky's fleet in
the sea OF Japan on May 81, 1906,
the minister OF foreign affairs of
Japan. the letters show. cabled Min
lister Takahira in Washington, to in
woke Roosevelt's aid rs n mediator.
Il was amused" wrote the presi-
dent. by the way in which they
asked me to invite the two belliger-
ents together directly on my own
motion and initiative. IL reminded
me of the request for contributions
sent by campaign committee to of
flee holders wherein they were asked
TO make a voluntary contribution
Of ten per cent of their salary. II
showed "A certain naivetc on the part
OF the Japanese
According 10 his biOgrapher. every
step in the negotiations extending
over period OF three months. was
taken by Mr.. Roosevelt without the
aid OF any of his most trusted coun
sellers. John Hay, his secretary OF
state. being critically i'll. Secretary
Root having resigned from the cab
met many months earlier and Sec
rotary Taft being absent in the Phil
ippines.
"One reads the thick volumes OF
his correspondence with Amusement
bordering on increduliU.' writes Mr..
Bishop 1t is incredible that one
man could DO so much and so we'll
In no other task OF his life was the
abnormal energy. mental and physi-
cal. OF Theodore Roosevelt put to
a sevcrer test and from none did ne
emerge more triumphantly. His &C
tivity was a. tirsless as his resource
fulness was tnexhaustible"
The presidents activity was di-
| rected, he said. 10 mot only steadily
and irresistibly forcing the two war
ring nations into a conference. but
bringing other nations like England
France and Germany 10 the support
OF his efforts. II Russia baked and
showed signs of refusal. he persuad-
ed the kaiser 10 bring pressure up
on the car in the interest Of peace
| II Japan showed similar signs. Eng
land was appealed TO. TO bring pres
SUI e "a lfAfAA AAfA Al N4At emu Germany
alone really helped. and Roosevelt
gave unstinted praise TO the kaiser
ever afterward for what he die
then.
I'm all OF this correspondence the
Colonel wrote without restraint or
reservation In a confidential letter
. TO Secretary Hay he referred 10 the
kaiser rs a monOmaniac and "a
jumpy creature who has had another
fit." In another miSsive he thus
characterizes the former emperor OF
Russia. The car is a prepOste- o,,s
little creature as the absolute Suto-
crat OF 10000. 600 people"
Every day. and. often several times
a day he urged the emperors OF
Russia and Japan 20 agree upon
terms OF peace. Once e wrote a