Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-06-09

The president spoke, he said, as the
friend of Russia no less that Of Japan
and on behalf not only of the Wash
ington government but in the interest
of humanity. Until his words have
reached Tsarkoe-Selo and have been
communicated to Emperor Nicholas in
the friendly spirit in which they were
uttered their effect can not be esti-
mated.
Dispatch for Emperor.
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 a formal state
ment regarding the conference be OBJ
tanned. Throughout the diplomatic
corps there is a strong hope that the
conference marked the first step to-
ward peace, but the general opinion
is that weeks may elapse before even
preliminary negotiations can be be-
gun. Diplomats express the hope that
Emperor Nicholas will receive. the
PRESIDENT s words "as the counsel of
that government which has for years
been Russia's traditional friend and
will weigh it accordingly"
Unaccompanied, Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, called by ap-
pointment at the White House and
was ushered at once into the Blue
Room, where he was joined Immediate
ly by the president, and a conference
followed.
Approaching the natural feelings OF
the ambassador on such an OCCASION
the President began the conversation
by frank personal expression of sym
pathy for Count Cassini. allnding to
the severe strain under which he has
been for the past few days, and deplor-
ing the terrible loss of life and the
consequent sorrow caused by the re-
cent battle.
Without further preliminaries g
general and entirely informal and per-
sonal conversation upon the whole sit
uation followed. The president in
formed the ambassador that he earn
estly hoped for an early peace in the
far East, and that in expressing thi:
hope he voiced not only his strong per
sonal sentiments and those Of his gov
ernment, but he believed that they
were held by all Of the powers. Hi
opinion was that it would be a mistake
for Russia to continue the war. II
addition to the suffering entailed by
the conflict he did not believe tina
Russia has anything to win in prolong
ing hostilities.
The president did not enter into de
tails, but the personal character o.
the .conyer alton and his long ac
quaintance with Count Cassini enabled
him to speak plainly regarding the de
cisive character Of the victories.
What Japan's s probable peace term
would be the President was wholly un
able to say, but he did not hes
itate to express the opinion that, diff
cult as these conditions might prove II
the light of such a victory as tha
gained in the Corean Straits, the.
would increase in severity with ever.
day that a state of war continued. Tn
less Russia has hopes of administer
ing a decisive defeat to Japan in thi
war, the president believed it woul'
insure to the interests of the st. Pc
tersburg government to conclude peac
/ at once.
Briefly and in a paraphrased form
these were the arguments used by tn
president in support of his conviction
that as between a continuation of tn
war and immediate peace, the latte
would be greatly to Russia's advant
age.
China Real Loser.
Having received no word from hi
government since the defeat of Rojesi
vensky's fleet save the brief dispatche
telling of the engagement, Count Cas
sini was unable to do more than t
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