Show secrecy is maintained concerning his efforts oyster bay aug 24 A crisis in the peace negotiations Is approaching rapidly whether there is to be peace between russia and japan or a continuance ti nuance ot the war will be determined very likely within a few days since he made his direct appeal to emperor nicholas president roosevelt has been awaiting developments that euch efforts as he has felt proper to make avert a failure of the washington conference might not fall today cheso developments began to appear A report from ambassador bas beyor at st petersburg of his audience with emperor nicholas was received and in addition some important advises advices from portsmouth reached the president they were regarded as so urgent that as soon as they were received in the executive office in the village they were carried to sagamore hill by a trusted executive clerk the utmost secrecy Is maintained regarding the communications not the slightest intimation of the nature of their contents being permitted to become public it Is quite certain that in addition to making a direct appeal to the russian emperor to take such measures as may bring the pending negotiations to a successful issue president roosevelt has communicated with the japanese government along similar lines whether that appeal was made directly to tho emperor of japan as in the case of emperor nichoas cannot be ascertained as no official confirmation is given to the statement that such a communication has been tor warded an impression is likely lo 10 be created by some recent reports of the presidents activity in the peace proceedings that he Is exerting the power of the influence that he wields to force the envoys into some sort of an agreement no such impression Is warranted by the efforts he has made prom the incipiency of the negotiations the president has been actuated by motives of the sincerest friendship for both of the and by a desire to do all hat in him lies to terminate a conflict so sanguinary that it has shocked the entire civilized world in the identical note which he directed to the st petersburg and boklo governments ern ments he expresses the hope that their representatives might come together and settle their differences themselves since the envoys assembled in america in an effort to carry out the presidents suggestions he has followed in spirit and in principle the ideas he enunciated in his identical note in the preliminary to the conference the president acted in the capacity of an between russia and japan when the plenipotentiaries arrived in america and were received by the president he assured them that they would be tree absolutely from interference in their deliberations he made it clear to them at the same time that it aie could be of any assistance to them in the accomplishment of their great mission that assistance would be extended gladly in any proper effort to solve their differences the presidents offer was appreciated to the fullest by the conferees and later they availed themselves of it moved by profound desire to restore peace tha president has lent his good offices to the representatives of both the warring powers but he has retrained from any effort which might be regarded as offensive either by russia or japan he has maintained his position as an intermediary making suggestions when suggestions were requested and giving counsel when it was sought impressed by the belief that an agreement can be reached by the envoys after full discussion and thorough consideration ot all phases ot the question at issue president roosevelt finally has appealed tor peace to the st petersburg and boklo governments communicating his appeals simultaneously to the envoys themselves such suggestions as ho has offered and such preparations as he has made were tor the consideration of the aries were presented with a view to facilitate their labor it Is known that both the russian and japanese governments appreciate the disinterested friendship of the president and that both have expressed abat appreciation 0 his efforts to secure a lasting and honorable peace |