Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-03
Struck by Pres. Roosevelt
Friday Afternoon.
Has Conference With Count
Cassini--War Gone Over.
Expresses Hope for Early Peace--wi|| Be
Communicated 10 Gar.

Washington, June, 2.-The President
| today, struck a blow for peace in the
| Far East. In a conference at the White
House. this afternoon, WITH Count Cas-
| SIM. the Russian ambassador, the
President expressed the earnest hope
| that Russia would forthwith conclude
| peace with Japan. ProlongatiOn of the
war, he believes, will not result in VIC
tory for the Russian arms and can on
ly serve to increase Japan's demands
and render more difficult the drafting
| of q treaty of peace which the Carr rs
! well as the Mikado can sign. Until his
| words have reached Tsarskoc-Selo and
| have communicated to Emperor Nicho-
| las in the friendly spirit i'll which they
we're uttered, their effect cannot be
estimated.
Soon after reaching his embassy.
Count Cassini began the preparation of
| dispatch to his government. Neither
at the White House nor at the Russian
| embassy could formal statement re-
garding the conference be obtained
Throughout the diplomats. corps there
is Il strong hope that to;!ay's conference
marked the first step toward peace but
| the general opinion is that weeks MAJ
elapse before even preliminary negotia-
tons can be begun. Diplomats express
the hope that Emperor Nicholas will re-
ceive the Presidents words "As the
council of that government, which for
years hal been Ru"sias traditional
friend and will weigh il accordingly
Approaching the natural feeling of
the ambassador on such an occasion
the President began the conversation
this afternoon. by a rank personal ex-
preston of sympathy for Count Cassini.
alluding to the severe strain under
which he has been for ihc asst few days
and deploring the terrible loss of life
and consequent sorrow caused by the
rt cent battle IN the sea of Japan.
Without further pr-lmnaries, a gen
eral and entirely informal and personal
conversation upon the Whole situation
followed. The Presid.n, informed the
mba asadO that he earnestly hoped
for an early peace in III" Far East ana
that in expressing this hope he voiced
not only his strong personal sentiment:
and those of his government, but he
believed these were held by all Of The
powers. His opinion was that it would
be Il mistake for Russia to continue the
war. In addition to the suffering entail
ed by the naval conflict, he did not be-
lieve that Russia has arything to win
in prolonging hOstilities. The President
did not enter into details but the per-
SOnal character of the conversation and
his long acquaintance with Count Cas-
SIM enabled him to talk plainly regard
ing the decisive character of the Japan
csc victories.
What Jlpan'S probable peace terms
would be the President was wholly I'M
able to say. but he did not hesitate to
express the opinion that. difficult as
these conditions might prove in the
light of such a victory as that gained
in the COrean straits they would in
crease in severty with every day that
a state of war continued. Unless Russia
has substantial hope of administering a
decisive defeat to Japan in this war,
the st. Petersburg government to con-
clude peace at once.
Having received no word from his
government since the humiliation Of
Rojestvensky's fleet save the brief Off
cial dispatches telling of the engage
ntnt Count CaSsini was unable to 10
moro than give the President his own
personal opinion on tn" situation. The
ambassador was deeply touched by the
sincere COrtliality of his reception and
the frank and friendly manner in which
the President spoke. He could not see.
however. that there was anything in
the present situation. unfortunate as it
undoubtedly was, for his government.
W hich nccessitated Russia's suing for
peace. AS to territory, he pointed out
that China and not Russia had been
the loser for even Port Arthur was held
only under lease. On the sea Russia
had nothing more to lose. he said.
1t was the ambassadors firm opinion
that this was not 1.-The psychological mo-
ment," in which to discuss peace with
Japan. Whatever might be the ultimate
decision of his government, he took the
ground that Russia could lose nothing
either by waiting or by continuing the
war on land. There was hope of victory
for the Russian arms and in any event
Russia had not yet lost one foot OF ter
ritory. nor was the Russian frontier en-
dangered.
The ambassador pointed out that there
was not the slightest official intimation
from any source as to Japans probable
terms and that these demands, as stated
unOnlcaiIy, were altogether Impossible.
If Japan's terms would prove anything
like as severe as they have been reported.
it was the ambassadors opinion that
Russia could advantageously continue the
war indefinitely and eventually win a
would SO decide he did not wish to pre-
dict. but at last accounts the Emueror
was for n continuation of the war;
Regarding his visit to the White House
all that Count Cassini would say was:
II had most cordial conversation with
the President. this afternoon, during
which the whole situation in the Far East
was discussed informally and in a gen
eral manner No peace overtures were
received from Japan nor were any made.
Our talk was confidential, of course, and
OF very general character"
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