Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-03-30
LOOKS LIKE PEACE.
Peace Party Feels Encouraged to
Hope for Pacific Proposal Soon. 1
GERMAN and FRENCH INFLUENCE.
Rumor That Emperor william
HAD rendered Good OHlees Con"
Armed--yiehOIas May Approach
Japan Through France.

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st. Petersburg, March 2S.-The partI
within the government which is urging
the emperor to indicate to Japan Illus
sia's willingness to end the war II
reasonable basis can be reached, al
related in these dispatches on March
20. has been greatly encouraged the
last few days and an actual pacint
proposal may be Just ahead. The sub
feet has occupied much OF the atten'
ton of the conference at Tsarkoeseloe
certain grand dukes, supported by Gen
sakharoff, the minister Of war; Ad-
miral Avellan, the head OF the admir-
atty. and what is known as the war
party are still bitterly opposed TO the
idea Of peace under present circum-
stances, but with the exception OF the
ministers of war and marine, the en-
peror's ministers, backed by M. Witte,
solidly favor this course and the con-
vincing arguments they offer are tell
ing. French influence in the same
direction are now being supported by
German opinion. The rumor noted
by the Associated press last week that
Emperor William had rendered his
good offices now seems to be confirmed.
The Associated press is in a position
to assert, however, that If Emperor
Nicholas decides to approach Japan 1t
will be through France and that ne
gotiations will be conducted either
between M. Delcasse, the French for
eign minister, and DR.. Montono, the
Japanese minister at Paris, or M. Har-
mand, the French minister to Japan
and Count Katsura, the Japanese pre-
mier at Toxic.
The Russian government now feels
certain that Japan will not take the
first move nor disclose her position un-
I'll overtures are made authoritatively
In the Russian emperor's name on the
ground that he alone is capable OF
binding Russia. 1t is quite possible
that Japan's attitude in this regard has
been exposed through unofficial at
tempts to ascertain terms. Japan, 1t
will be remembered, took the same
position when Herr Detring, the Ger
man commissioner of customs at Tien
Tsln without plenary powers, sought
to obtain Japan's terms for ending
the Chino-Japanese war, declining to
treat until Ii Hung Chang, accompa-
MED by Gen, John w. Foster went to
Toxic clothed with full powers Fur
thermore, in view of the possibility
that no basis Of agreement might re-
suit even should the emperor now APP
proach Japan with pacific proposals,
It is regarded as entirely likely that
hostilities would continue, again fol-
lowing the precendent Of the Chino
Japanese war, until negotiations ended.
The Chino-Japanese negotiations were
begun in December and peace was con-
cluded In the following April. Mean
while the Japanese made winter cam
paign in Manchuria.
In the conferences concerning the
question whether Russia should now
indicate her willingness for peace all
agreed, firstly. that preparations to
continue the war shall not be relaxed
and secondly, to reject humiliating
terms. There would probably be two
points on which Russia would be found
Implacable, namely, cession Of territory
and indemnity, to neither Of which, It
Is said, would Emperor Nicholas ever
agree 1t is pointed out, however,
that II Japan seriously desires endur-
Ing peace on collateral questions, Rus
STA might be ready to offer liberal COM
considerations For In
stance, in lieu of direct indemnity
she might turn over to Japan the pro-
ceeds of the sale of all the rights and
Of the Port Arthur and Dalny
and the Chinese eastern railways and
literally pay for the maintenance of
Russian prisoners in Japan and while
refusing to cede Sakhalin, might grant
rights to the fisheries there or even
relinQulsh AL the valuable seal fisher
les on the Commander Islands II Is
possible also that satisfactory arrange
ments might be made regarding Rus
sian naval strength in eastern waters
for a period of years.