Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-10
JAPAN SOUGHT PEACE
Failure of Unofficial Repre-
sentations to Russia.
POWERS MAY NOW ACT
THE INITIATIVE MAY COME FROM
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
significance Of Lord Lansdowne's
Speech Last Evening-View Of
Baron Hayashi.
POWERS MAY NOW ACT

LONDON. November 1O-Japan unofu
c'aily has made representations to Russia
looking to peace. This action has resulted
IN Iaiiure. and such representations even
privately, are not likely to be repeated NV
Japan.
Afehough the suggestion OF a pacific set
tiemeht was made unofficially 1t actually
had pehlnd 1t all the weight of an offer nv
tne Japanese government. 1t was made
olrect TO Russia. No power acted as an in.
'enmediary. The proposition was put for
ward tentatively and unofficiaIIy. so that
the Japanese government would he I'm @
position to deny any report that IT was
SUING Tor peace. The failure Of these direct
negotiations. however. resulted in bringing
intervention within a measurable distance.
Lord Lansdowne,s Speech.
foreign Secretary Lansdowne's plea for
arpitration yesterday evening at the Guild
nan banquet Is taken here to be a pointed
suggestion to the United States and France
'hat the time is approaching when the pow-
ers must take some action 1t can he den.
E1tely stated that Lord Iansdowna mnde
ms speech with full knowledge that Japan
VIII not resent a proposition looking tn
peace from the three powers (the United
states France and Great Brdtain).
mere Is definite impression here that
me initiative will come from President
roosevelt, though the action would he
Joint 1t is mooted that Lord Iansdowna
spoke so openly yesterday evening onIv be
cause he had good reason to believe that
Mr; Roosevelt, If elected, contemplated
making an effort to bring the belligerents
TO discuss terms of peace Lord Ians-
downes remarks are held by those in his
commence to mean that whatever the
bnited b states may do in the matter Great
Britain will cooperate. even in the event
OF France not participating 1t is known.
however. that Ambassador Cambon. who
continues his work assiduously to bring
about some arrangement hopes for ioint
action by the three powers.
Baron Hayashi's View.
In an interview regarding the foregoing
Barpn Hayashi, the Japanese minister,
safds
II should not be surprised to see the
three powers named or two of them, take
the action suggested. Exactly upon what
basis OF settlement peace could be secured
1t Is at present impossible to see but there
is not the slightest doubt that combined
representations, especially If led by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, would have a far-reacbinR
result between two countries one of which
was thoroughly defeated. 1t Is compara-
lively easy to make peace in this case as
neither side is thoroughly defeated yet
The prospects for the success of friendly
Intervention have vastly increased. Since
the commencement of the war the two ma
tions now respect each other to a degree
never dreamed of before they met in bat
tie That mutual respect is the most hope
ful FACTOR for peace. Japan does not want
to go on fighting forever. Yet, even with all
the victories won during this war, her
statesmen would render themselves liable
to, be most seriously misunderstood es-
pecially in Russia, If they openly suggested
in the name of humanity some method
whereby the war could be stopped. 1t
would be altogether different, however, at
this stage of the war, should friendly Of
fer, prompted by that sense of humanity
which Japan cannot voice for fear of being
misunderstood, emanate from the United
States and Great Britain, but nothing can
be done until the fall of Port Arthur"
Baron Hayashi intimated that he thought
that the fall of the fortress would not long
be delayed, and added:
In the meantime / have no doubt that
the powers who are now so willing to ex-
press their desire for peace will contiden-
tally exchange views in the hope of ar
irving at some suggestion practical to both
belligerents."