Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-07-19
MINISTER WHITE
INTERVIEWED
First and Only One That He Will
Give Out.
HONORABLE RESULT.
Ruseian Statesman Says His Country
Prefers That the War Continue
Rather Than Have DishOn.
Orable Peace.

St Petersburg. July i'm. witte,
the senior Russian peace plenipoten-
tiary. received the correspondent OF
the Associated Press at his villa on
Yelagin island Monday. In according
the honor of an interview to the Asso-
ciated Press he said he expressly de-
sired 1t stated that he had declined all
previous requests of journalists for in
ierviews and would decline all further
requests. He further said that he
made an exception I'm the case of the
Associated Press. as II was the repre-
sentative of the press of the United
States, and as he was about to become
States, and also as a mark of the
sympathy he felt toward that country.
Nj. Witte spoke I'm French. After
greetings. which were cordial. the con-
versation gravitated quickly to the
high mission with which the Russian
statesman is charged and the DISPOSE
ton of the foreign press to interpret
his appointment as an Indication that
Russia had decided to make peace at
any price.
mo, MOI" said he, Strengthening up
in his chair and speaking slowly and
distinctly as If weighing the value of
each word. ain the first place, / have
been designated by the emperor as
his ambassador extraordinary for pour
parleurs with the japanese plenipoten-
tiaries to ascertain whether II is posi-
BILE to conclude treaty of peace. My
personal views are Of secondary i'm
portance. but my ideas are I'm entire
accord with those of my friend, Count
Lamsdorff.
In serving my emperor, ! have re-
ceived precise instruct ons from his
majesty and shall follow them.
THE ultimate decision remains In
the hands of the emperor and II is for
him to decide the destinies of Russia.
The emperor is the friend of peace and
desires peace, but very much fear that
the Japanese terms will be such that
we will be unable to reach an accord
Secondly, the world should disabuse its
mind of the idea that Russia wants
peace at any price. There are two
parties in Rusa-a. One favors the con-
tinuation of the war a outrance-this
is a large and influential party.
The other. to which belong, favors
peace, | avow It frankly because. tell
ing the truth has always been my rule
IN politics. was for peace before hos
1Tffiea brn1ra- ant IkE1sesa-t}.s-.S~--seg
me situation changed.
Even though there are these two
parties as to the advfsability of end
ing the war in the present circum-
stances, both would be united IL the
Japanese demands wounded the amour
propre of the Russian people or jeop-
ardized our future as a nation.
Il am sure IL / report that the con-
ditions of Japan cannot be accepted,
Russia will accept the verdict and the
Russian people will be ready to con-
tinue the war for years II necessary.
Thirdly. Russia is not crushed. as
the foreign press has led the world to
believe. The interior situation is very
serious. i do not deny, but I'm Europe
and America the true Significance of
what is happening is not understood.
+. Correspondents come here and talk
with few hundred people In St Pc
tersburg and Moscow. mislnterpret
what is happening and fill the world
with fa'se Impressions as to Russia's
future"