Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-25
TIE OUTLOOK FOR PEACE.

While there is still reason to think that
the movement for peace between Russia
and Japan will not fail it cannot be said
that the promise of an early ending of
the war in the far east has improved
within the last week. No definite step
has been taken, so far as appears, to-
ward the attainment of peace since the
belligerents agreed that negotiations
shall take place at Washington city. 1t
is understood that each will have three
representatives in the peace conference,
but no one has yet been appointed, while
a date for the meeting of the conference
has not been settled upon. There seems
to be distrust on both sides and particu
larly on the part of Japan, whose past
experience in diplomatic dealings with
Russia not unnaturally causes doubt as
to the good faith of the Russian govern
ment
The effect of this feeling is to lead
Japan to decline to take the initiative in
any respect. Moreover, she evidently
takes the view, quite justifiable, that all
the advantages of the situation being
with her she is not called upon to lead
off in any of the preliminaries. Having
said that she is willing to discuss peace
it Is for her beaten enemy to take the
first steps for bringing about the con-
ference. 1t would be quite eXtraordi-
nary for the victorious nation to adopt
different course. Russia, on the other
hand, hesitates perhaps from a feeling
that it might be to her disadvantage TO
show anything like eagerness for peace.
1t is natural enough that she should not
be disposed to acknowledge to the world
that she realizes she is beaten and the
hopelessness of the struggle, although
the czar and his advisers must under
stand that this is the worlds view of
the situation.
The vital matter at present Is an
armistice and neither belligerent is will
ing to propose this. So far as Japan is
concerned a suspension of hostilities
pending the meeting of the peace confer
ence would probably impair the strategic
advantages which her armies have been
toiling for months TO secure. The gen.
eral belief is that Oyama has the Rus
sian armies practically encircled and is
about ready to strike a blow that may
prove decisive. An armistice, while halt
ing hostile operations, would not stop
the reinforcing of the armies and the
strengthening of their positions. Thus
II would benefit the Russians and possi-
bly, make somewhat more difficult the
task before the japanese. 1t may be
that there is expectation at st. Peters
burg that Linevitch will be able to sue
cessfully resist an attack and check the
progress of the enemy, thereby enabling
Russia to assume n bolder position in
regard to the question of peace. If there
1 is such an expectation at the Russian
capital 1t is shared nowhere else. The
opinion of those best qualified to judge
of the chances is that they are very
strongly in favor of an overwhelming
japanese victory. 1t is said to be the
consensus of opinion among European
military experts that the defeat of the
Russians in the impending battle is
| likely TO be so decisive that they will
hardly be able to make another stand on
Manchurian soil.
What seems TO be pretty certain is
that little further progress will be made
toward peace negotiations until after an
otAer great conflict, for which the armies
have been most energetcally preparing
1t seems evident that this is the de
termination of both belllgerents-one
confident OF another great victory. the
other hopeful Of az least checking the
advance OF its thus far invincible foe.
Proprietors Of department. stores who
sell liquor In unbroken packages VII bt