Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-06-06
PEACE IS URGED
BY PRESIDENT.
SKATES HIS VIEWS FRANKLY TO
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.
MISTAKE TO CONTINUE WAR
pouut oassin4 Deeply Touched by
4 1sssadsut's Words-Thinks, How
/ ever, Moment Hes Not Ar
rived to Discuss Peace.

\ 3Too1dent'0 Wofds-Vhtnke, 6oW-
ever, Moment Has Not Ar
rived to Discuss Peace.
I Washington, June 3.-The president
bn Friday struck a blow Tor peace in
khe tar east. In q conference at the
white house with Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, he expressed the
Earnest hope that Russia would forth
With conclude peace with Japan. Pro
bongation of the war, he believes, will
not result in victory for the Russian
arms and can only serve to increase
oapan's demands and render more diff,
noult the drafting OF treaty Of peace
which the car ~ well as the mtkado
Fan sign. The president spoke, he
aid, - the friend Of Russia, no less
khan OF Japan, and in the interest OF
humanity. Until his words have
eeachsd TseEskoe Selo and have been
communicated to Emperor Nicholas in
khs friendly spirit in which they were
uttered, their effect cannot be esti-
mated. Soon after reaching his en-
tbassy, Count Cassini began the prep
aration Of dispatch to his govern
}ment. Neither at the white house nor
at the Russian embassy could formal
tstatement regarding the conference be
obtained. Throughout the diplomatic
corps there is strong hope that the
conference marked the first step to-
ward peace. but the general opinion
Pc that weeks may elapse before even
preliminary negotiations can be begun.
Diplomats hope that Emperor Nicholas
will receive the presidents words las
the counsel Of that government which
pas for years been Russia's traditional
friend and will weigh it accordingly"
e, The Conference.
Unaecompanied, Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, called by ap.
pointmsnt at the white house this aft
srnoon at half past two o'clock. He
was ushered at once into the blue room
Nhere he was Joined Immediately by
Z the president and q conference follow.
I'd. lasting until after three O'Clock
Approaching the natural feelings OF
the ambassador on such an occasion
the president began the conversation
with Q frank personal expression Of
bympathy for Count Cassini, alludina
10 the severe strain under which he
has been for the past few days. and de-
plortng the terrible loss Of life and
ponsequent sorrow caused by the re.
cent battle In the Sea Of Japan. With.
out further preliminaries, a general
and entirely informal and personal
conversation upon the whole situation
followed. The president informed the
ambassador that he earnestly hoped
For An early peace in the far east and
fAat IN expressing this hope he voiced
not only his strong personal senti.
nents and those Of his government
hut he believed they were held by ali
: q che powers. His opinion was that
btHtlifHhddt The war. ar n addition to tbs
suffering entailed by the naval con.
dict he did not believe that Russia
has anything to win In prolonging hos.
Spues. The president did not enter
INTO details, but the personal Character
of the conversation and his long ar.
nuAantance with Count Cassini ensbIad
aim 70 speak plainly regarding the de.
sisave Character OF the Japanese vic.
tories. w
Peace Should Come at Once.
What Japan's probable peace terms
would be the president was wholly un.
eple 10 say, but he did not hesitate to
express the opinion that, difficult as
these conditions might prove In the ligh-
OF such a victory as that gained in The
Korean straits, they would increase in
severity with every day that state O,
war continued. Unless Russia has snh.
stantial hope OF administering decisive
deaeat to Japan In this war, the presi
dsnt believed 1t would inure to the in
terssts Of the st. Petersburg government,
TO conclude peace at once Briefly. and
IN q paraphrased form, these were the
arguments used by the president in SUP.
poN OF his conviction that as between q
continuation OF the war and immediate
peace, the latter would be greatly to Rus.
aia's advantage.
Ambassador Il Touched.
Having received no word from his
government since the annihilation OF
RpJestvensky's feet, save the brief OH.
siA dispatches telling Of the engage
rnsnt, Count Cassini was unable to do
more than to give the president his own
personal opinions on the situation, The
ambassador was deeply touched by the
sincere cordially OF his reception, and
she frank and friendly manner in which
the president spoke, he could not see.
however, that there was anything in the
present situation, unfortunate as 1t IN.
doubtedly was for his government,
which necessitated Russia's suing for
peace. AS to territory he pointed out
that China. and not Russia, had been the
loser, for even Port Arthur was held only
under lease On the sea, Russia had
nothing more to lose, he said.
Not the Time to Discuss Peace
IT was the ambassador's firm opinion
that this was not .'the psychological
moment" in which to discuss peace with
japan. Whatever might be the ulti.
mate decision OF his government. he
took the ground that Russia could lose
nothing either by waiting or by contin-
ming the war on land There was hope
yet OF a victory for the Russian arms
ard in any event Russia had not yet lost
one foot of territory or was the Russian
frontier endangered. The ambassador
pointed out that there was not the
a1i1htent official intin,at;on fro,o