The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-01
TALKED AT WASHINGTON Discussing the Probability
 of Peace. MR. ROOSEVELT IS READY Powers Willing to Lend All
 Aid Possible.
MR. ROOSEVELT IS READY
Russfan and Japanese Representatives Give no Hope of Ceasatfsn of Hostiiities--cassini and Tsk-
 ahira TaIk.

| the guest at luncheon today of Pre2i- dent Roosevelt at the White House. Tn& opportunity afforded by the Iuncheon for an unipterrupted talk was emoxac- | cd by the President and Sir Mortimer to discuss fully the recent developments in the Far East, as well as for a conside~ ration of some matter Involving the re- lations of the United States and Great | Britain.
 That they discussed seriously. though informally the prospects of bringing about peace between Russia and Japsn there can be no doubt. So far, howev- CT. the country has received no inti- nation from Russia that negotiations 1 looking to peace in the existing circum- l stances would be acceptable to tha Czar's government. President Roose- welt is keeping In close touch with the situation and is willing as he has been l for many months to take the initiative | in peace negotiations should a favcra- I ble opportunity be presented. The ad- vices received today indicate that the Russian government has under congide- | ration the war situation in the light or l the result of the battle of Tshufnina, l but the advices do not convey even suggestion of the future action of the St. Petersburg government It Is re- | rarded as likely that the Russian gov- ernment may convey to the United States and the other powers. either l through It's ambassadors or through the medium of the French government, It's l determination reached after thorough consideration.
 l Steps Toward Pence Likely.
 While the President has discussed inc formally the subject of peace negotin- 1 tions with members of his cabinet and I with some representatives of foreign | governments at this capital, and in the near future probably will take up the matter with others. 1t can be said au- thoritatfvely that no definite steps look ing toward peace yet have been taken by this Eovernment. That such steps I may be taken is regarded as quite Iike- tIy but whatever action may be taken l viii depend on information not in hand
 That a concerted effort on the part | of the several important powers, ine
 cIuding the United States to bring about a cessation of hostilitles in the l Far East may be made very soon Is l reasonably certain. The result Gf such an effort is quite another matter. It ia regarded as too soon yet after sne great naval battle for Russia to determine
 unon a definite course of action. At least until the St. Petersburg govern ment shall have indicated what its us- sires may be, the probabilities are re- garded as favorable only for an inrof'
 nal discussion of peace.
 Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassa- T.
 time tomorrow for general talk but he denied tonight that he would carry any message from his government ana spoke discouraglngly of the prospects of peace. been fairly even," he sand. peace at this time might be looked for. But why should Russia seek peace low 1T she cannot obtain reasonable terms We have a large army in the neld which Is constantly being increased. Russia is not threatened with Japa- nese invasion. Her resources have not been at ali exhausted by the war.
 Magnificent Optimism-
 "Without a navy she is naturally handicapped but that only means that 1t will take us the longer to defeat the Japanese on land. The idea tnaS Russia will be forced to seek peace mt this time or surrender to Japan is ri- dIculous. With the resources at her command Russia can continue the war for years. I do not say that this Will he the final decision of the govern ment. but my firm personal opinion is that in this moment Russia cannot think of suggesting peace to her ao- versary."
 hira. the Japanese Minister. said Rus sIa would not have to communicate with Tokio direct to find out the gem eral conditions upon which Japan would open peace negotiations, adding that unless Russia is prepared to accede forthwith to these terms she had bes- ter fight on. Japan has never inti- mated to any power the definite terms m which she would conclude peace hut Russia knows what Japan iz fighting for and if she is ready to discuss peace she can find out from one of the several neutral powers Ja- pans sine qua non"
 At the reception of senor Nabuco. the new Brazilian Ambaseador. to the diplomatic corps this afternoon count lcasstni and MT. Takahira were the centres of two groups of diplomats with whom they discussed the momen.' tous events of the last few days but tbe Ambassador and the Minister did not come in contact and neither held out definite hope for peace.