Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1904-12-08
CXAR EoEs PEACE.
When Port Arthur Falls. Spror-
tHntty Willie Presented.

ST. Petersburg, Dee, "A report
which comes from an nnimpeachabie
source has reached the Publishers
Press correspondent that Russia is not
only ready to receive any peace pro-
posals Japan NAV have to make, but
that with the fail of Port Arthur she
will be ready to sue for peace. That is
the situation today, notwthstand ng
the swashbuckling attitude OF those
who profess to frame the Empires p l.
icy, and will be the situation right
along, even if this and subsequent
statements to this effect were officially
denied. Before the world at large Rus
sia cannot afford Just now to- appear
tired of the struggle and skeptcal as
to it's outcome, but diplomatic circles
are permitted to know the truth, and
Russia's representatives all the civil
lied world over have received strong in
timations that sincere and authorlta-
tive offers of mediation must not be
treated lightly in the fu ure.
1t is therefore to be assumed that
Russia considers that the conflict Is
entirely hopeless. There are sure 10
be some Russian victories in Manchutla
and the general belief is that tney VIII
come soon, owing to the fact that Field
Marshal the Marquis Oyama has been
C mpelIe ed to part with large bodies OF
his men in order to hasten the fall Of
Port Arthur. But Russia has Far Ehst-
ern interests of much greater import
ance than even the possession OF Port
Arthur, and as these interests have
been attacked in the past by Great
Britain and China alike, she is in dire
need of an ally. That ally will be
japan, if the plans of today do not mis-
carry. The battles of today are tc be
followed by the close ties of commercial
and political union tomorrow.
Naturally, Russia Will not consider
her friendship q sufficient great gift
to expect the Japanese to refrain from
the occupation of Port Arthur. from
special rights in Corea, and from o,her
provinces which are set down tn the
Japan Sc peace programme To-Day as
Indispensable Diplomats here are
confident the Mikado and his advisers
will take the same view, The strength
of the argument that armed peace be-
tween he two ma ions would be L CON
stant menace 10 the prosperity OF bolh,
while an offensive and defensive ali
ance would assure both a great f1tuie
is ,isldeteu incOntrovertiule. The
CzAf's advisers know full we'll ,hat
pan does not trust Cnlna and that
Gjeat Bntain's frle dship is believed
by many leading Japai e. t to be tue
outgrowth of England's hatred OF Rne-
sia, and not for love of the little yell y
men,
Details of the plan to be followed in
yet, but the programme is b ing work
ed out with great care, and according
10 the informant of the Pub i hers
Press corresp pondent, provides for al
possibilities. 1t provides for ace by
mediation on the part Of a foreign pow
er, tor peace through Japanese offer,
and for peace by means OF japanese
proposal. The contingencies of Port
Arthur's fall, as we'll as of the rescue of |
the fortress by the Baltic fleet, are pre-
vided for as minutel, as are those OF |
victories south of Mukden, but the !
final chapter of all, the point to which |
all these lines converge, is an a lance !
of such ironbound ties that Russia and /
Japan will stand as one if any ttE e I
power attempts one step in the Far
East which does not equally please the
Gar and MikadO.
CONTRACT Is READY.