The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-11
ST. PETERSBURG IS
IN FAVOR OF PARIS
Would Be Willing, However, for Peace
Delegates to Meet In Washing
ton If Japan Insists.

ST. Petersburg, June II, 1885 a. M
Paris Is Russia's choice for the opening
Of peace negotiations. If Japan insists
upon Manchuria or Washington, Russia
will doubtless agree but Paris is prepared
red and the Emperor already is prepared
TO issue instructions to NJ. Neldoff the
ambassador to France, to act as pleni-
potentiary to receive the Japanese condi-
tons.
The Russian government has communi-
GATED 10 the administration at Washing
ton its consent to the publication of Rus
sia's reply to President Roosevelts ap-
neal at the same time thanking the
President warmly for the friendly and
lofty spirit in which 1t was conceived.
The Associated Press Is now able to
Owe some additional interesting details
of the extraordinary council presided over
bv the Emperor which met recently at
Tsarsl<oe- Selo and at which the practi-
cal decision was taken to terminate the
war If the conditions were not too
onerous.
Besides the older male members of the
imperial family all the ministers were
nresent except M. Manul1in, minister of
Justice General Dragomiroff and Vice
Admiral Doubasoff where there as strate-
gic experts of the army and navy
Two Opposed to Peace.
with Grand Dukes Vladimir and Alex
ander Michaeloviteh as leaders, an the
members of the imperial family except
Nicholas Nichoalevitch favored an at
temnt to conclude peace Only General
gakharoff, minister of war. and General
I obko. from among the ministers, held
cut for the prosecution of the war. The
former displayed a telegram from GEN
eral IInevitch reporting the strategic po-
sition of the army as good, ana express
ino not only confidence in his abihty TO
defeat the enemy, but even to assume the
ofrensiye General Sakharoffs argument,
however was easily outweighed by the
considerations presented by the other
ministers. especially as the emperor from
The beginning manifested strong dispo-
sition to end the struggle II honorable
terms were procurable.
There was wide divergence or opin-
ion as to whether Japan would attempt
to impose impossible terms. but the con-
sensus of opinion was that Japan Is too
wise to desire now to humble its gigantic
ueiphbor and force conditions which
would forever ranlxle in the heart OF Rus
sia and only make peace an armed truce
till the Russian empire could make fur
ther preparations.
Must Not Be HumiIiatng.
An enduring peace 1t was agreed was
,rnnossible if Japan tried to force upon
Russia huniliating terms such as the sur
render and disarmament of Vladivostok.
and the absolute limitation of Russia s
naval strength In the Pacific.
The ground therefore, already was pre-
nared for the reception of President
Roosevelts message, which was con-
veyed to the emperor by Ambassador
Never personally the following day. and
his majesty accepted 1t cordially. espe-
e,allv as he has good reason to believe
that the President had taken pains to dis
abuse his majesty Of any idea that the
United States was unfriendly to Russia,
or desired to see her destroyed as power
In the Pacific.
Formal Truce Expected
formal truce is expected to be pro-
claimed Immediately when the place of
meeting of the plenipotentiaries has been
settled upon. The Associated Press hears
on ali sides nothing but the highest COM
mendation of President Roosevelt and If
n results In a satisfactory adjustment of
terms, II is believed that this act is bound
to have a tendency to restore the rela-
tions between the United States and Rus
sia to something like the old friendly
basis.
II Is understood that the Emperor has
agreed TO receive the Moscow delegation
on Tuesday next II NJ Peterunkevitch.
who Is personally obnoxious to his majes-
~ withdraws. NJ. Peterunkevitchs ac-
tivity over the zemstvo resulted in his
exile by Minister Won Plehve. Since his
return as president Of the Imperial Agri-
cultural society of Moscow, he has con-
tinued his crusade against the governs