The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-05
CzAR SUMMONS NJ. DE WITrE.
Impressed by Russian Peoples Attitude,
He WIN Have Conference To-day.
Special cabls DeipaleA 10 TIM suN,

impressed by Russian Peoples Attitude,
He WIN Have Conference To-day.
Special Cable De5Dateh to THE sus
ST PETERSBURG. Jan. 4--The absence of
any display Of national sorrow over the
fall of Port Arthur has greatly impressed the
Emperor, who has summoned NJ. de Witte
to an audience at Czarskoe-Selo Tomorrow
NJ. de Witte, ia president of the Council Of
Ministers to which the Car intristed his
reform ukase. in order that tho plars pro-
posed in 1t might be made effective. had
previously, of his own motion. sum-
moned Advocate Nabokof. the leader Of the
Liberal party, 10 assist him in framing
the new laws. Nabokoff. after listening
to the Cars programme, refused TO CO.
operate on the ground Of disbelief in the
sincerity Of the programme. He expressed
the belief that the Identification OF the
Liberal organization with it would DO
damaging and compromising 10 the party.
NJ. de Witte reproached NabokofT because
the Liberals always assumed an atti-
tude OF mon possumus" when they we're
asked to help the Government NJ. de Witte
then summoned Prof. Gessen OF the st.
Petersburg University, leading Liberal
The leaders OF the zemstvos declare that
the fall Of Port Arthur is an event of enor-
nous importance to their cause. They
consider it quite possible that the Council
of Minister'S will summon the zemstvos
to a conference at St. Petersburg within
a month.
From the outward aspect OF tho capital
1t would be difficult to draw n conclusion
as to the actual feeling of the populace.
Inherited and lifelong habits Of personal
- Al n 4
characteristics raise an impenetrable barrier
to the Western observer Of the Russians,
Passing through the streets to-day one
would say that the people do not realize
or do not care for the fate of Port Arthur,
and that they are indifferent to national
prestige. The city has lively, almost
festive, aspect. People are shopping in
preparation for the Russian Christmas
festivities. The demand for newspapers.
which was noticeable on Tuesday, does not
continue. Perhaps n sense Of relief that
Port Arthur's agony Is ended partly ac-
counts for the comparative cheerfulness.
Among the Liberals the cry for peace
does not slacken. Prince Galitzin. Mayor
OF Moscow, in a speech declared that the
whole Of Russia was Offering the prayer;
20, Lord, grant this country the blessings
OF peace Several papers, ignoring the
restrictions Of the censorship, attack the
Government for withholding the truth about
Port Arthur and for suppressing statements
printed in the foreign press.
The paper Our Days resumes Its pleas
for peace. 1t declares that nobody yet
knows why Russia is fighting Japan but
-one thing We know is that whether VIC
tories or defeats await us in the future we
are marching toward national ruin which
not even a successful war against japan
can avert. The burea ucracy which drove
the unprepared country into war, can con-
clude peace only by sacrificing its own
existence.
Another newspaper warns the police not
10 try to compel the people TO display the
usual fags and illuminations on Christmas
for the Russians, mourning. must not be
driven to feign inhuman JOY.
Count KomarofTsky. lecturing In Moscow
in favor of peace. urged that Port Arthur
be made a treaty port. that the railway
remain in Russian hands and that China
be neutrai7ed by the Pjwers.
SO far as can be ascertained the Ministry
Of Marine has decided nothing concerning
the Baltic feet beyond OBTAINING it at NADIA
gascar Rumors from Cronstadt and
Odessa that 1t will be recalled cannot be
confirmed. II is improbable, however.
that the feet will be called back at present.