The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-13
Unlimited Authority Conferred
on NJ. Witte by the Gar.
To Conclude a Peace With the
Japanese Government.
SUCCEEDS MURAVIEFF
On the Commission Entrusted
WitEfthe Negotiations.
He Accepts After Twice Refus.
ing the Position.

st. Petersburg, July 13.-Emperor
Nicholas has signed the appointment
of NJ. Witte, president of the council
of ministers, to be chief plenipoten-
tiary representing the Russian gov
ernment in the peace negotiations to
be conducted next month in the
United States. The appointment.
which was signed after midnight,
clothes NJ. Witte with plenary powers.
Official notification of the designa-
ton of NJ. Witte to head the mission
was forwarded to Washington this
morning. NJ. Witte will take passage
on the North German Lloyd steamer
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse, which
sails from Cherbourg July 26.
Sergius Witte, the Russian plenipo-
tentia.ry, may be regarded as the lead
ing hberalist statesman of Russia. For
the last thirteen years he has been one
of the strongest personalities in the
Russian bureaucracy although his po-
litical fortunes suffered a setback
when he was compelled to resign the
portfolio of minister of finance in Au-
gust, 1903, and again when after being
appointed president of the council of
ministers in the same month his Office
gradually lost its importance until ru-
.mors of his intention to resign and go
abroad had been persistently circu
lated.
steadily worked his way up from the
position of an under paid railway
clerk who occasionally acted as porter
to the leading statesman of Russia in
spite of the fact that his enemies are
numerous and include some of the
most powerful in Russia. A man of
large stature, big Hmbed and nuscu-
lar. standing over six feet high,
harsh to his subordinates, but his hon
esty and ability have never been doubt
ed even by his worst enemies. He was
created a count in 1901.
M. Witte is thoroughly familiar with
the far eastern question in all its bear
ings. He understands the Japanese
position and fully realized before the
war that the aggressive policy being
pursued under the lead of Viceroy
Alexief and M Brazoffy president of
the Yalu Timber company, and the
coterle of adventures connected with
| them would drive japan to take up
over the situation with the Marquis
Ito, president of the Japanese privy
council and one of the leading states
men of Japan. Practically it was
Whites disapproval of Russia's far
eastern policy and the creation of a
viceroyalty in the far east which
caused his downfall as minister of
finance.
| Not Enough Money in 1t.
Paris, July 13.-The st. Petersburg
correspondent of the Echo de Paris
states that the declination of NJ Mu-
ravieff to head the Russian peace mis-
sion was based partly on the state of
his health and partly on the fact that
| his allowance for expenses to cover the
period of his sojourn in America was
only $4,000 roubles. which amount he
considered insufficient owing to the
great cost of living in the United
States.
M. Witte twice refused to become
the successor of NJ. Muravieff. on the
ground that he did not wish to be
merely a figurehead in the transmits
sion of Emperor Nicholas wishes to
accept the peace offered by Japan.
His selection therefore cannot but be
| taken to mean that the emperor has
yielded to his insistence that the real
powers of plenipotentiary be conferred
upon Russia's plenary representative
on the peace mission.
| Thought to Insure Peace.
oyster Bay, L. l., July 13.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt received from the
Associated Press the first definite
news of the declination of M. Mura-
vieff to act as the principal plenipo-
tentiary of Russia in the conference
and of the designation by the Rus
i ing Russian envoy. Official notifica-
ton of M. Whites appointment has
not yet reached the president from
st. Petersburg, although it may come
at any time.
Unofficially the designation of M
Witte is regarded as most propitious
1t is believed that his appointment i:
an assurance that peace in the fai
east is now in sight.
Beekman Winthrop, governor o.
Porto Rico, and Edward c. Kent, chic
Justice of the supreme court of Ari
zona were guests of the presiden
today at Sycamore HILL They arrived
from New York in time for luncheon
and spent a part of the Afternoon
with the presAent.