The San Francisco call., 1905-08-03
RUSSIA FAR FROM BEATEN.
De Witte Says Tremendous Task Yet
COnfrOnts Japan.


NEW YORK, Aug. 2-Speaking, dur
ing his voyage on the Kaiser Wilhelm
der Crosse, of his approaching visit
TO the United States, Peace Plenipo-
tentiary de Witte said:
I am happy tc visit America, which coun-
try l am most anxious TO know. My only
regret is that I cannot speak English.
1 should like thoroughly TO appreciate the
country whose progress and development
interesting and instructive
course with President Roosevelt, who has
reached such a prominent position a states
Emperor Nicholas. It has been stated that
I am TO test the ground for floating Russian
tween the two countries. especially regarding
commercial affairs. My only mission is the
70 express my personal opinion on questions
affecting the relations between Russia and
America, with view TO further strengthen
Petersburg and Washington.
The Russians have had reverses but this
does not signify that they have lost the power
which was known to the Muscovite before the
war, nor does II mean that Russia has be-
come a negligible quantity nor that the Jap
anese have acquired by result Of their re-
cent victories, such a supremacy as to make
redoubtable enemy.
De Witte recognizes the good quail
tiles of the Japanese military and
naval administrative organizations and
does not believe any other European
nation would have been able to resist
Japan as Russia has. 1t could not be
done. He continues:
It must be taken into consideration that the
japanese had been preparing for war for about
ten years. while Russia entirely unpre-
pared, wishing for and trusting in peace The
japanese fought in their own neighborhood
under all favora bic conditions while the Rus
SLAMS had TO be sent 5000 versts from their
headquarters by railroad entirely insufficient
70 their needs and TO fight a colonial war with
iG NOT
in history another example Of a similar dis
proportion between armies. Nevertheless, all
the foreign officers Of the European armies who
followed the war unanimous in affirming
that the Russian troops, both soldiers and off,
GERS fought with bravery phenomenal un-
der the circumstances.
On the sea the Russians found themselves
constantly inferior in conditions The squadron
Of Rojestyensky was sent out. not because the
Russians had much confidence in its success,
but because they could not renounce. from a
military and moral point of view, any chance,
matter how uncertain, of obtaining even
partial victory. Suppose for moment that
the war. instead Of having taken place in
Korea Manchuria. had been fought at the
true Russian frontiers, then the japanese
would not have been able 20 face the Russian
forces for more than six months.
However. things stand, the Japan
ese have not made such progress as Is gener-
ally believed; in fact they would have to ad-
vance four times much they have done
IN the last year and half to reach Russia
OF peace. But they are very far from this
more the respective conditions of the Rus
SLAMS and the japanese will be reversed.
According to the Russian plenipoten-
tiary those who do not know Russia
well oppose TO these reasons the
specter of the internal condition OF
the empire, imagining all kinds of
cataclysms, but even about this they
are mistaken. NJ. de Witte did not
wish to discuss at this time the events
in Russia, affirming, however, that they
had not the character or the gravity
attributed to them, nor can they bring
about the consequences which have been
supposed, partly by those prejudiced
against Russia and partly by those ig
norant Of Russian internal affairs.
What was going on in the Muscovite
empire, he said, could not have any in
huence on her foreign policy and even
less on the continuation or cessation.
of the war. Said De Witte:
The great majority of the Russian people do |
not attach TO the conflict in the Far East the l
Importance which is given TO it in Europe and /
America 1t is considered as a very distant |
colonial war. but the whole Russian people |
would rise as single the day in which |
they should think that il is no more the ques- !
ton Of a colonial war; which is not dangerous, |
but conflict threatening the security Of the |
country
De Witte indicated. notwithstanding |
these views. that he did not mean to ,
say that he would not make every pos |
sible effort toward the conclusion of |
peace, adding that he was favorable !
to peace as Russian and as man,
having always worked to prevent war
and understanding that at present
nearly the entire. world desired the end
Of the conflict. However, he felt that
to reach this object it was necessary
that the Japanese should be animated
by the same feelings; that they should
be convinced that peace for Russia was
desirable, but was not at all indispens-
able and that Russia would never ac-
cept any conditions which would offend |
her amour propre. De Witte repeated
that he would honestly do all that his
conscience might suggest to bring