The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-01
RUSSIA UNWILLING TO
 JOIN PEACE CONFERENCE
VERBAL REPLY TO SECRETARY
 OF STATE HAY,S NOTE.

Ambassador Cassini states That While
 the Cars Government Accepts in
 Principle the American InyitatiOn It
 Cannot Accept Until the War With
 Japan is oyer-First Power to spe-
 cihcaIIy Suggest . POstponement.
 Washington, Nov. sO.-Russia is un- willing to join the powers in a second peace conference at The Hague until her war with Japan is ended.
 The Russian reply to Secretary Hays circular note to the powers of October 2s last, inviting them in the name of the president to reassemble in confer ence at The Hague Ito complete the postponed work of the first confer ence," was delivered verbally tos Sec retary Hay to-day by Count Cassini. the Russian ambassador. The ambas- sador was requested by his government to say that Russia heartily accepted in principle the invitation to a second con ference at The Hague and gladly asso- ciated herself with the American gov- ernment in it's effort to complete the mission of the first great assembly convened under the leadership of the Russian emperor. The ambassador was further requested to say that while the Russian government very sincerely cherished these views it did not consider the moment opportune for the conven- ing of such a conference, and 1t there fore must withhold It's formal accept ance of the invitation until the war in the Far East was at an end.
 Secretary Hay and Count Cassini were in conference for nearly an hour. The ambassador was careful to assure the secretary that his government well comed the invitation of the president as an additional evidence of the American governments appreciation of the bene- ficial results of the first conference, and regretted the necessity of suggesting 8 postponement of the work then begun, a work in which the Russian govern ment no less than the American was keenly interested.
 Secretary Hay thanked the anbassa- dor for the cordiality with which the declaration of Russia's adherence in principle to the proposition had been conveyed to the American government, and assured him he would forthwith transmit the reply to the president. Al- though different in form, the Russian reply does not differ in effect from that of Great Britain, France and other European powers, practically all of which already have answered the in- yitation. While Russia is the first power specifically to suggest a post ponement until the close of the war, all the powers. in expressing their ap- proval of the proposition, reserved for future pour parlers the time when the conference should be held.
 It can be stated that this govern
 nent is well pleased with the recep- tion it's note has received. The powers signatory to The Hague convention have been officially committed to a sec ond conference at some future time. In his note, Secretary Hay purposely omitted suggesting date for the as- sembling of the conference, realizing that certain powers might hesitate to take up for final definition such com plicated questions as the rights of neu- trals at a time when a great war WAS In progress. So far as the Russian government is concerned 1t is stated that 1t is naturally averse to discussion of the many important questions which would come before the conference at a time when its attention Is devoted to a foreign war.
 In diplomatic circles the news of Russia's conditional reply caused some surprise. The caution which character ized even the consideration of the in vitation at St. Petersburg made sever al ambassadors here doubtful of the American note. This doubt has been removed, however, by the friendly terms in which the reply to-day was couched.
 For the present it is believed the Am erican government will rest on it's oars. When the Far Eastern war enters on its final stage this government will be prepared to follow up its invitation. In the meantime should Russia's attitude change, she will find the American gov- ernment ready to lead the powers im- mediately to The Hague for their sec ond oonference