Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13
ALL NOW WATCH
PEACE CONFERENCE
M. Whites Conferences While
in Paris.
Special CabIegram to The Star.

Special Cabegram to The Star.
LONDON. August 12.-All eyes are now
focused on the peace conferences in the
United States. There Is occasion to believe
that NJ. White while In Paris had a number
of conversations with French statesmen and
financiers which will have an important
bearing upon the attitude which he will as
sumo at the final conclusions of the peace
conferences when the lines are sharply
drawn Opinions differ as to what the pur-
port of those conversations WERE but GER
tain Indications seem to suggest that they
turned largely upon the part which Russia
would like China to play in the proposed
settlement
Owing to a combination OF circumstances
and to a large number of causes, perhaps
not yet even fully understood, China is
likely to prove the most important and
probably the most difficult factor to deal
with in the peace conference. China's at
utude toward the peace conference itself Is
attracting a great deal Of attention In Eu-
rope, both here and the continent. 1t
Is recalled that her perennial policy since
the Sung dynasty has been to encourage
disputes between other nations from which
she herself might derive advantage. In
other words she plays the same role of
politics in Asia that the equally subtle and
perhaps equally troublesome Turk plays In
the politics of Europe. 1t Is quite generally
less China lacks all the elements which
existed in Japan at the beginning OF the
Melji-first the throne Is rallying point
on which centered nations reverent anec-
ton second. a large party Of progressive
leaders who to hereditary prestige added
high intellect. profound foresight and In
vincible courage; third nation swayed by
patriotic sentiment. not selfish individual
ism.
According to the arguments of the Japa-
ncse here and in France and in Germany,
1t would seem as though they would like
to have ii appear that China's only present
hope consists in trusting Japan and adopt
ing the latter's progressive councils. Yet,
according to all accounts, China seems un-
able to discriminate between the power
which formerly trampled on her sovereignty
and the power which rescued her territory
from the armed aggression of Russia. NO
one believes that China Is willing to rely
on the good faith of the mikado's declara-
ton of war which openly announced that
Japan's main object was to prevent the alb
sorption of Manchuria by Russia and to
maintain the integrity Of China.
The convenience to Russia OF introducing
China into the discussion Is obvious. and
the reply lately sent from st. Petersburg
to the Chinese note refusing 10 recognize
any arrangements affecting Chinese inter-
ests unless China is herself consulted about
them. leaves the door open for further eff
forts in this direction Japan met the posi-
ton of China with a polite but firm mega
tive. Russia. on the other hand, after ex-
planning that the negotiations must be con-
Quoted by the plenipotentiaries of the bel
ligerents. went on to state that she recog-
nizes that the Chinese government is inter-
ested in certain of the questions to be de-
bated. That. 1t Is urged, is a platitude.
But 1t Is also urged that 1t is not the habit
of Russian diplomatists to utter platitudes
without a purpose. China Is interested as
the lawful owner of Manchuria, which Rus
sia has occupied on various fraudulent pre-
texts and which she still continues to hold
except in those parts from which Japan
has driven her.
One thing which Is regarded as Interest,"
Ing. II not curious. Is the fact that the
generally made to say what the Russian
foreign office wishes to have said, should
have become preoeeupied upon this various
subject of China. 1t predicts that the ques-
lions of Manchuria and Korea will give rise
to innumerable complications. Those coun-
tries. 1t points out with accuracy from the
purely technical point OF view. have not
been conquered by either Russia or Japan,
and II boldly draws the conclusion that
neither of these powers have the right to
dispose of them.
It is believed here that NJ. White sounded
the French statesmen and HnanclerS Wnlle
ne was In Paris upon these very points.
His statements that he fears that the de-
mands Of the Japanese may render an
agreement impossible, and that In reality
he does not possess the power to conclude
peace without taking the matter back to
st. Petersburg. have not had a tendency
TO allay the feeling of alarm which ex-
lists in the various capitals of Europe 10
the effect that the last state of the Japanese
and Russian war may be worse than the
first, that the military operations have
only commenced on both sides and that the
struggle may yet prove the most long
drawn out and the most gigantic in his
when the number engaged
on both sides considered.
The Russian newspapers do not hesitate
to openly say that M. Witte expects to re-
turn at once TO Russia should the terms
which he expects to communicate to the
representatives of Japan at the peace con-
ference prove unacceptable. he has an
nounced that Japan must not wound the
amour propre OF the Russian people or en-
danger their future as a nation. Yet 1t Is
difficult to understand how he can escape
the conclusion that Japan Will be Obliged
TO exact substantial concessions from de-
feated enemy.
Here in London where the Asiatic Ques-
ton has been studied with unusual inter-
est because OF the fact that Japan Is re-
garded as the ally OF Great Britain 1t Is
believed that a retranSfer OF Manchuria
to China is Inevitable. And 1t Is believed
that Russia must have already made up
her mind to this sacrifice. But how to
sugar coat the bitter pill-how to prevent
Il from woundng the amour proore and en-
dangering the future of Russia as ma
ton appears to be the problem which con-
fronts NJ Witte.
1t is regarded as significant that after M.
White arrived In the United States he had
expert aid. He was Joined by NJ. Pokotilor.
the former director of the Russo-Chinese
Bank which has L.ayed so important a
part In the policies Of Russia In the far
east. and now the accredited representa-
tive OF Russia at Picking. NJ. Pokotllon Will
be able 10 give NJ Witte invaluable help In
the advocacy of all propositions which have
Il tendency to aid Russia, even at the ex-
pense of China.
Russia WILL of course. assume friend