The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-23
PROSPECTS FOR
PEACE BRIGHT
War VIII End if Japan's Terms Are
Not Too Harsh.
FRANCE WILL NEGOTIATE
EMPEROR WILLIAM OFFERED TO
MEDIATE.

q T PETERSBURG, March %. -: SO
y A. m.-The party within the gov
eminent which is urging the en-
J"ror TO indicate TO Japan Russia's
~ lllInguesS to end the war if a rea-
nablc basis can be reached, as re-
!. ted i'm these dispatches on March 20.
b1S been greatly encouraged the last
T. " days, and an actual pacific proposal
5uuSt he just ahead The subject has
occupied much OF the attention of the
conferences at TsarSkoe-Selo. Certain
grand dukes. supported by General
S1kharoff. the minister Of war; Admiral
-Avcllan, the head of the admiralty and
hat IS known as the war party, are
still bitterly opposed to the idea Of
eaCe under present circums tances, but
with the exception of the ministers of
war and marine. the emperOrs minis
trrS, backed by NJ. Witte solidly favor
This course and the convincing argU-
1rents they offer are telling. French in
tueuces in the same direction are now
- eing supported by German opinion.
Will Use France.
Tho 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. how
ever. that if Emperor Nicholas decides
u approach Japan it will be through
france and that negotiations will be
conducted either between NJ. DelcaSse,
the French foreign minister. and DIR.
NlontonO. the Japanese minister at
Paris, or NJ. Harmand, the French min
lister TO Japan and Count Katsura, the
Japanese premier at Toxic.
The Russian government now feels
certain that Japan will not make the
first move nor disclose her position I'M
iii overtures are made authOritatiVely
IN the emperor's name on the ground
that he alone is capable Of binding Rus
STA.
Japan's Position.
It is quite possible that Japan's at
fitudc i'm this regard has been exposed
through unofficial attempts to ascer-
tain terms. Japan, it Will he rcmem-
lcred. took tho same position when
Jierr petriug. the German commission
- of customs at Tientsin. without pie
J1aTy powers. sought TO obtain Japan'S
terms for ending the Chiuo-JapauPse
var, declining to treat until Ii Hung
chang. accompanied by General John
W. Foster went to Toxic clothed with
JUN powers Furthermore. in view OF
me possibility that no basis of agree
1ucnt might result even should the en-
geUor now approach Japan with pacific
q rOpoSals, II is regarded as entirely
likely that hostilitIes would continue,
again following the proceeding of the
( hino-Japan war, until negotiations
ended. The ChinO-Japanese negOtIa-
lions We're begun in December and
peace was concluded in the following
April. Meanwhile tho Japanese made
& winter campaign in ManChuria.
Would Never Agree.
I'm the conferences concerning the
question whether Russia should now
indicate ner willingness for peace, all
- gree. firstly. that preparations to con-
1inue the war shall not be relaxed and,
secondly to reject humiliating terms.
There would probably be two points on
which Russia would be found implaC-
2 BILE. namely, cession of territory and
Indemnity. to nsither Of which, il is
said, would Emperor Nicholas ever
gree.
It is pointed out, however, that If
japan seriously desires peace on Collat-
S-al questions, Russia. might be ready
10 offer liberal compensatory considera-
lions. For instance, in lieu of direct
indemnity she might turn over to ia
1,au the proceeds of the sale of all the
ights and property of the Port Arthur
and DaIny and the Chinese Eastern
Always and literally pay for the
maintenance Of Russian prisoners i'm
japan and. while refusing to Cede SAX
halien, might grant rights to the fisher
yes there or even relinquish all the valu-
able seal fisheries on the Commander
islands. It is possible, also, that sat
5rfactOry arrangements might be made
regarding Russian naval strength in
eastern waters for a period Of years.