The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-07-20
N. WITTD INTERVIEWED
Declares Russia Will Not Make
Peace at Any Price.
FEARS JAP TERMS ARE TOO HARD
Sure II They Cannot Be Accepted Rus
sia viii Be Ready to Continue War

Sure II They Cannot Be Accepted Rus
STA viii Be Ready to Continue War
For Years-Decision Remains With
the Gear.
St. Petersburg. July lS.-M Witte,
the senior Russian peace plenipoteh-
tiary. received the correspondent OF
the Associated Press At his Vi'At on
Yelagin island. In according the honor
of an interview 10 the Assoc lated Press
he said he expressly desired II stated
that he had declined all previous re.
quests of journalists for interviews
and would decline all future requests.
lie further said that he made an eN'
ception in the case of the Associated
Press. as il was the representative of
the press OF the United States. and a
he was about to become the temporary
guest Of the United states. and also
rs a mark OF the particular sympathy
he felt toward that great country.
NJ. White spoke in French. After
greetings which were cordial. the con
Aersation gravitated quickly To the
high mission with which the Russian
statesman is charged. and the DISPOSE
ton of the foreign press 10 interpret
his appointment as an indication that
Russia had decided to make peace at
any price.
no, no. said he strengthening mp
in his chair and speaking slowly and
distinctly. as if weighing the value of
each word. In the first place. | have
been designated by the emperor as his
ambassador extraordinary for pour
parlers with the Japanese plenipoten-
tiaries to ascertain whether it is pos
siblc 10 conclude a treaty OF peace.
My personal views are Of secondary
Importance. but my ideas are In entire
accord with those of my friend. Count
LamsdOrff
"lB serving my emperor | have re-.
ceiyed precise instructions from his
majesty and shall follow them.
"The ultimate decision remains in
the hands Of the emperor. and il is for
him to decide the destinies OF Russia.
The emperor is the friend OF peace
and desires peace bat | 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 par
ties In Russia One favOrs the contin.
uatOn Of the war outrance-this IL
large and influential party. The other,
to which / belong. favOrs peace.
avow it frankly. because telling the
truth has always been my rule in poll
ties. was for peace before hOstilities
broke ont When the war began the
situation changed.
Even though there are these two
parties. as to the adyisabilty of enter
ing the war in the present circum
stances. both would be united If the
japanese demands wounded the amour
propre of the Russian people or jeOp-
diNlLtu OAl iuLiit a. Il ildtipii.
Il am sure if report that the condi-
lions of Japan cannot be accepted. Rus
STA will accept the verdict and the
Russian people will be ready to con-
tinue the war for years. if necessary.
Thirdly Rssia is not crushed. as the
foreign press has led the world to be-
lieve. The interior situation is very
serious. | do not deny, but in 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 misinterpret
what is happening and fill the world
with false impressions as to Russia
future"