Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-23

to the idea of peace under present cir
cumstances, but with the exception OF
the ministers of war and marine, the
emperor's ministers. backed by M.
White, solidly favor this course, ana
the convincing arguments they offer
are telling. French influences in the
same direction are now being support
ed by German opinion.
The rumor noted by the Associated
Press last week that Emperor William
has rendered his good offices now
seems to be confirmed. The Associate
ed Press is in a position to assert
however, that if Emperor Nicholas de-
cides to approach Japan 1t Will pe
thru France, and that negotiations wlll
be conducted either between M. Del
casse, the French foreign minister, ana
DR.. Montono, the Japanese minister
mt Paris, or M. Harmand, the French
minister to Japan, and Count Kat
sura, the Japanese premier at Toxic.
The Russian government now feels
certain that Japan will not make the
first move, nor disclose her position
until oyertures are made authorlta-
lively in the Russian enperor's name,
on the ground that he alone Is cap
able OF binding Russia. 1t is quite
possible that Japan's attitude in this
regard has been exposed thru unolIlc-
ial attempts to ascertain terms Japan,
1T will be remembered, took the same
nosition when Herr Detring, the Ger
man commissioner of customs at lien
'rsin, without plenary powers, sought
20 obtain Japan's terms for ending the
1ne1tninp. To treat
until Ii Hung Chang, accompanied by
Gen. John W. Foster, went to TOXIC
clothed with full powers.
Hostilities Would Continue.
Furthermore in view of the possible
ity that no basis of agreement might
resnlt even should the emperor now
approach Japan with pacific proposals
1T is regarded as entirely likely that
hostilities would continue. again fol-
lowing the precedent of the Chino
Japanese war, until negotiations end
ed. The Chino-Japanese negotiations
were begun in December and peace
was concluded in the following April.
Meanwhile the Japanese made win"
ter campaign in Manchuria.
In the conferences concerning the
question whether Russia should now
indicate her willingness for peace all
agreed, firstly, that preparations to
continue the war shall not be relaxed,
and secondly, to reject humiliating
terms There would probably be two
points on Which Russia would be found
implacable, namely, cession Of terri
tory and indemnity, to neither OF
which, it is said, would Emperor Mich
olas ever agree. 1t is pointed out,
however, that If Japan seriously de-
sires enduring peace on collateral
questions Russia might be ready to of
fer liberal compensatory considera-
tions For instance, in lieu Of direct
indemnity she might turn over to ia
pan the proceeds of the sale Of all the
rights and property of the Port Arthur
and Dalny and the Chinese Eastern
railways and liberal pay for the main
tenance of Russian prisoners in Japan,
and, while refusing to cede Sakhalien,
might grant rights to the fisheries
there or even relinquish all the val-
liable seal fisheries on the Commander
islands. 1t is possible also that satis-
factory arrangements might be made
regarding Russian naval strength in
eastern waters for a period of years.