Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-06-17
Assured for Peace Nego-
tiations at Washington.
Naming Of the Date to End
the Preliminary Work.
Pessimistic Views Advanced BY European
Press 10 Regard To Outcome.

st. Petersburg, June 17.-u.45 A. NJ.
Although in the absence of of1cial
advices the Russian government Is not
yet able to announce the definite con-
cluSiOn of arrangements for the meet
ing of the Russian and japanese plenl-
pOtentiaries. the foreign office, last
night, authorized the statement that
negotiations to that end were rapidlj
prOces ding and issued communica-
tion for publication in this mornings
newspapers acquainting the pubic
with the speedy progress toward the
opening of the conference. Count Cas-
sini's report of the selection of Wash
inston from the cities favorable to
Russia has not yet arrived, but it is
thought the ambassador is waiting for
the fixing of the date of meeting,
which again will depend on the travel
ing arrangements the Marquis Ito.
president IF the japanese privy council,
and NJ Nelidoff Russian ambassador
to Paris. will be able to make, and on
the time necessary to perform the
journey.
After final arrangements have been
made the foreign office, it is expected,
will issue another note announcing the
completion of steps preliminary to the
confer and naming Russia's repre-
sentative or representatives.
The communication of the foreign Of
flee is as follows:
According to adviceS from Wash
ington. Immediately after the receipt Of
the Russian note responding to the
proposition of President Roosevelt, ne
gotiations as to the place and the time
of meeting commenced. These negOtia-
tiOns are proceeding speedily, but are
not yet actually finished
Pessimistic Chluvinists are building
mountains out of the wording of The
Associated Press dispatch from WASH
ineton announcing that Great Britain
| is unwilling to use her influence with
Japan to moderate her ally's terms, de-
claring that if it means that Great Brit
ain has sounded Japan and found her in
| a mood to insist on a heavy indemnity
and other humilating demands, it also
means the indefinite prolongation of the
war. The general disposition. however,
| is 10 suspend judgment until Japan re-
vealS her terms and in diplomatic cir
CleS there is a hopeful feeling that these
terms will form the basis of possible
agreement.
In conversation with friend yester-
day, Nj. Witte, president of the Coun-
Gil of Ministers, delivered himself along
the lines of the interview with him
| printed in the SlovO, Wednesday morn
| ing. which was filled with the gloomiest
foreboding as related in these dis
Patches and in which NJ. Witte declared
that he would not serve as one of the
plenipotentiaries for three reasons, the
last Of them being that he SHOULD do
everything to avoid it."
| AS The Associated Press stated, while
M. Whites name was not mentioned in
the interview, the veil of his identity
could be easily pierced.
In the conversation, yesterday, NJ
Witte confirmed the statement that it
was utterly impossible that he could
participate in the peace negotiations,
supplementing it on other grounds with
the unique reason that he had been
educated to consider the Japanese an
inferior race and would therefore be
unable to discuss their terms of peace
during Il war in which Russia was not
a victor Far from being entrusted with
the responsibility of conducting negO-
tiationS. he declared that he was not
even consulted regarding the affairs of
his own department.
NJ. Witte manifested keen feeling
over the rise of Gen. Trepoff, assistant
minister Of the interior, saying:
II know nothing Of what is being
done either for peace or for reform
Tell me what TrepOif advises and will
tel you what the Gar will do. Trepoff
is the real ruler of Russia"
Gen. Kleigels, governor general of
kieff, has arrived in St. Petersburg
and gossip is connecting his name with
the governor generalship of st. Peters,
burg as an assistant to Gen. Trepof.