The San Francisco call., 1905-08-31
News of the Portsmouth
Agreement Received With
out Expression of Salts
faction or Dissatisfaction
DUE CREDIT GIVEN
TO THE JAPANESE
Intelligent Classes Realize
That the Diplomatic Vic
tory Is Not Wholly With
the Cars Government

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 31:-The news
of the successful completion of the pre-
llminary negotiations for peace at Ports
mouth has been received here without
marked or even notable expressions OF
satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Tranquil
hty is perhaps the best term with which
to convey the sentiment of practically all
classes, including the officials.
The prevailing sentiment among the
thinking element is that Japan arrived
al recognition of the fact that it was
really impossible for Russia to make any
further concessions, because she desired
TO avoid arousing among the people at
home sentiments which would constitute
most serious menace in the future. 1t
is recognized here that Japan also real
lied the necessity for a lasting and sta
BILE peace, and it is believed that the sue
cess of the conference was due to the
fact that both nations sincerely desired
to effect an understanding.
The more intelligent Russians do not
regard the. outcome at Portsmouth as be-
ing altogether a diplomatic victory or a
success won, at the expense of Japan.
There are undoubtedly certain divergen-
cies of opinion among Russians as to one
or another of the points set forth in the
preliminary peace understandings. These
Emergencies can be easily attributed to
sia, but it is no exaggeration to say that
all classes are deeply and sincerely ap-
preciative of the efforts made by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to bring about peace.
Furthermore, the general and sustained
interest of the American, people in the
entire matter finds due recognition and
full apprecia ton here. President Roose-
velt's efforts, it is declared supplied the
lubricant needed to overcome the friction
nd TO lna tho oh Of "a fer
ence running to a successful issue.
In considering the lack of effusion and
all outward signs of satisfaction with
which the news was received at st.
Petersburg it should be borne in mind
that the Russians are an undemonstra-
tive people and that the details of the
great disasters of the war Were received
with the same apparent apathy. 1t is
not the CUSTOM of the people here to in-
dulge in demonstrations, either upon oc-
casions of great sorrow or of great hap
piness, and the lack. pf popular and
spontaneous expressions of satisfaction
does not carry the same meaning as it
would in. the United States Furthermore.
news of great events spreads slowly
throughout the empire, and. this initiates
against popular expressions of satlsfac-
ton or dissatisfaction.
The Novoe Vremya, deploring the con-
clusion of peace, says:
God grant that the blow has not fallen on
Russia at the moment when Japan was ready
TO make every concession to terminate the
war and when the Russian army had become
stronger than ever before.
NJ Souvorin, editor of the Novoe
Vremya says he regrets that General
Linevitch. who telegraphed recently to ST.
Petersburg and Portsmouth, N. H., i'm
ploring Emperor Nicholas and NJ. de
Witte not to conclude Pc ace, did not lead
his army against the Japanese to sup
port the plenipotentiaries instead of al
lowing them to conquer the island of Sag
halin. The editor admits that he knows
from a certain source that Field Marshal
Oyama telegraphed 20 Toxic to the eff
feet that he could not guarantee vic
tory.
The Pan-Savic Svet says:
All the Japanese concessions pale before the
news that Japan. has acquired the better part
of the island of Saghalien.-
The popular Listok welcomes peace as
enabling Russia to enter heart and soul
into internal reorganization.