The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-20
RUSSIA Is READY
NOW FOR PEACE
Cars Ministers Favor Accepting
Reasonable Terms"
WILLING TO CHANGE POLICY
WOULD ASK ONLY TO RETAIN
ROAD TO VLADIVOSTOK.

-
y m.-While Emperor Nicholas
whose word is final, still declines
10 abandon the prosecution of the wal.
and the government maintains its abil-
rty to continue the conflict, the ASSOci-
aJed Press is in a position to state that
powerful Influences. including several
OF the emperOrS own ministers are
now strongly urging that the time has
come to indicate TO japan RusSia'S de-
sire for peace upon a reasonable basis.
Should JdDdn then attempt to impose
too OuerOuS conditions these Influences
argue that, in view of the universe
wish to see the bloody conflict ended
Russias position will be strengthened
abroad by the alienation of sympathy
from japan and the situation at home
improved when the nation is made TO
understand that the emperor'S pacific
prC pOsals have been met with impossi-
bic terms.
One of the emperor's ministers in a
conversation with the Associated Press
said.
We have suffered bitter defeat on
land and sea We can, however, still
continue the war. But both countries
have suffered great losses in blood and
treasure and II would only profit the
rivals OF both were we to fight on until
one or the other is exhausted Russia
has had Il hard task fighting the war
against such adveFSaTies 5000 miles
from home and l contend she can
make dignihed peace, without glory
but not without honor. AS the victor
on land and sea, Japan can afford to
remember as Bismarck did at the con-
clusiOn of the Austro- Prussian war,
that two countries which must live
through the long future as neighbOTs
may need each others friendship. ia
pan may consider the time prOpitiOus.
on account Of the situation in Euro
pean Russia, to try and crush US. Sup
nf nj oh
succeeds in finally forcing a humiIiat-
ing peace; il could not be more than an
armed truce. Russia is too big and
powerful to retire permanently from
the field. The clouds at home will
eventually roll away. With the army
and navy TeOrganized in five, ten or fif-1
teen years. there will come inevitably
our revenge. No permanent peace is
possible now or later unless Japan Is
reasonable"
To the suggestion of the possibility
of an alliance between Russia and ia
pan, the minister said:
Concessions by Russia.
a reasonable peace must first be es-
tabIished."
What" was asked, would be rea-
Sonable2'
broadly speaking, Russia's renun-
citation of her entire Manchurian pol
icy should satisfy Japan's claims.
She could have her protectorate over
Korea, such privileges on the Kwan-
tung peninsula and at Port Arthur
as the powers would not oppose, and
the Chinese Eastern railway be
placed under international control,
Russia maintaining her rights to a
railway line through northern Man.
churia to VIadiVOstok."
What would be Russia's attitude Oh
the subject of indemnity"
Russia never has paid indemnity,
and history practically affords no prece-
dent for indemnity when territory is not
occupied to insure payment, and Japan
holds not a foot of Russian territory.
Japan could, however, take the pro-
CcedS of the sale of the property and
rights Of the Chinese Eastern railway.
which was built with Russian money"
Proceeding. the minister said the diff
ficulties of continuing the war were
fully appreciated. both from military
and financial standpoint, but neither
was insurmOUntable. He denied en-
phatiCally that the negotiations for a |
French loan were dropped because Rus
STA would not make peace. He expected !
that these negotiations would be re
Sumcd soon. The success of the inter
nal loan, first announced by the AssO-
ciated Press Saturday, the minister
said, is assured. AS for the question of /
a new army. much depended upon the |
exact situation when General Linevitch |
got the army out Of danger
The minister said further that com
plete details of General Kuropatkin s |
losses have not yet reached the gov
eminent. but il is already known that |
the Japanese reports are greatly exag-
Gerated- The reports that sixty siege
guns and many hundred cars were left |
behind is false. as practically no siege !
guns or rolling stock fell into the hands |
of the Japanese. No new general mob |
iizatiOn has been ordered, and it may |
not be necessary. OF the 300. 900 reserv- |
lists modified last fall, 10000 and the |
Fourth army corps, numbering 40. 600. !
are now beginning to arrive in the far !
east. If. therefore. Linevitch'S army |
totals 100000 when he reaches Hardin |
Gf that. for instance, is to be the new /
base. he will have an army of about |
100000 without SummOning additional |
reserves. Some regular units, like a |
division of the guards, might be sent !
without further mobilization"