The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-20

CTS initiative. The Suns Berlin cor, respondent, on the other hand, says it Is of the Czar's seeking.
 Is 1t the last desperate resort of a distracted monarch who feels the throne totterine beneath him and longs to es- cape with his life, or is 1t preliminary to another great move in world politics by the master mind who lets slip no opportunity for the aggrandizement of the German Empire? While we await the answer to these fateful questions we may turn to the less pressing mat ter of the impending peace conference.
 Witte,s Real Views on the War.
 An unfavorable impression has been created by M. witte's declaration re- garding Russia's peace attitude. The sole interpretation put upon 1t is that 1t is a disheartened piece of blut in- tended to alarm Tokio. The Spectator justly remarks today that M. Witte. like all other Russians. cannot quite rid himself of the idea that he is ad dressing interiors and that 1t is well to begin with 0 covert but perceptible menace. It is not a wise way of be- ginning and it will somewhat shake confidence in M. witte's capacity. He forgets that Tokio Is as proud as St. Petersburg. Does M Witte. after all recent experience. imagine that Japa- nese diplomacy Is i'll informed? The tone of his interview seems to indicate that half comprehension of ones ene- my which Is always the greatest ob- stacle to successful negotiation. Much more interesting and important than this insincere pronunciamento Is an article which M. Witte wrote before he was selected as peace plenipotenti- ary and which Is published this week anonymously in the Revue de Paris. hoo attth tative information that M. Witte is the author of the article.
 The writer discloses a project for convention which was proposed by Ja- pan to Russia In July, 1903, and which hitherto has been kept a secret. In the project the two countries bound them- selves to respect the independence and integrity of China and Korea and to maintain the principle of equal oppor- tunity for the trade and industry of all nations. They also bound themselves to recognition of Japanese interests in Korea and the special interest of Russia for railway enterprises in Man. churia.
 Clause provided for the free devel- opment of the trade of both countries in Korea and Manchuria, respectively, with @ promise from Russia. not to put obstacles in the way of the eventual extension of the Corean Railway as far as Southern Manchuria.
 Russia by Clause recognized as the exclusive right of the Japanese the giv- ing of advice and assistance to the Co., reans in the interest of the good gov ernment of that country, necessary mill itary aid being included.
 In 1896 1t was Russia who put herself forward as the champion of the inteB rity of China against Japan. In 1903 Japan becomes the defender of China against Russia. But between these two dates Russia's policy has been com pletely reversed She had taken over Port Arthur and had refused to evacu- ate Manchuria-
 kaiser's Share in Chinese Grabs.
 Tie cause of the occupation of Port Arthur. an act which was contrary to the spirit and letter of the treaty of 1896. Is thus explained:
 A little more than a year after the signing of this treaty the German Elm peror went to Russia After a review which was given in his honor and as the two Emperors were driving back alone to the palace Emperor William suddenly said to the Czar that he hoped the latter would see no objection to a German fleet going to Kiaochau to avenge the murder of some German missionaries and he added that he on his part would willingly see Russia es- tablish herself at Port Arthur. The CZar, who was taken unawares, replied courteously without giving his formal assent to the proposal. but the tenor of his reply was rather favorable than the reverse. The arrival of the sovereignS at the palace cut short the conversa- tion.
 Immediately upon his return to Der lin the Kaiser dispatched a German fleet to Kiaochou. M. Muravieff was then Russian Minister of Foreign Af- faira ahfOaf cnInHfl Ua bald aa r1N in November, at which besides the Czar and this Minister there were present Nj. Vannovski, Minister of War, M. Tyr taff. Minister of Marine. and M. Witte.
 The writer of the article in the Revue de Paris gives a succinct account of the deliberations, in which M. Wltte. In opposing the advice of NJ. Muravien to initiate the Germans by occupying Ta- lienwan and Port Arthur, urged that the treaty with China rendered such ac- tiOn Impossible. Moreover, he said, Russia ought to do her best to induce Germany to evacuate Kiaochau. In any case, said M. Witte, the occupation sia's Asiatlc prestige, which was based on traditional friendship with China. Such change of policy would, he urged. be disastrous, for 1t was az gressive.
 M. Muraviefrs views. however. pre- vailed. A fleet was sent to Port Ar thur on the pretext of protecting China, who for three months of painful nego- tiation sought to decline this protec- ticn which had been gratuitously thrust upon her. Finally at the beginning of 1898, the occupation took place. and al- though Li Hung Chang's treaty with Russia legalized the act in March, China could not forget what had oc- cured and still less could Japan. The natural consequences followed In the of the Harbn- Port Arr thur railway line. the Boxer uprising, the persistent occupation of Manehuria by Russian troops in spite of European and Japanese protests, and the inevit- able agitation of the Manch Irian pop ulation owing to the presence of the Russians. :@ :...s@5.. ....
 But Russia had now began to menace Corea greet chartered company