The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-05
RUSSIAN ENJOYS HERE
NJ. Witte Denies He Said Japan's
Peace Terms Are Intolerable.
HE GIVES OUT A STATEMENT

Praises American newspapers @"N
President Roosevelt-9eaee Terms
Must First Sc kscertalned and Con-
sidered Before Negotiations Proceed
New York. Aug Slight officials
OF the Russian peace commission ar
rived here on the steamer Kaiser VIII
helm der Crosse. Besides the senior
plenipotentiary, Sergius Witte' there
were ]. Shipon. director OF the treas
nry department. Major General Yer
n,olen military attache at London;
Mr. Naboukoff. OF the foreign office;
lean Korotovitz. formerly secretary OF
the Russian legation at Pekin; Georges
Plancon. formerly Russian charge
d'anaires at Pekin; General W. Is.
samoiloff. of the Russian foreign office.
and Professor de Martens. professor OF
international law at ST. Petersburg.
Mr.. Witte emphatically denied hav-
ing said that Japan's peace terms were
intolerable. He also denied positively
that he had predicted that the confer
euce would break up in a week.
As Mr. Witte does not speak Eng
lish. he was not pressed for an inter
view. but the members OF his party
were each approached for their views
about the negotiations. Naturally on
a subject OF such delicacy they were
reticent. but this much was ascer-
tanned beyond doubt: In scope the
movers of Mr.. Witte. who comes as
plenipotenuary OF Russia TO discuss
with the Japanese plenipotentlaries
means of ending the war and. provided
a basis acceptable TO Russia is ob-
tanned TO sign the treaty OF Washing
ton. equal in every way the powers
handed 10 Baron KOmura by the Japa-
nese emperor MI White brings with
him instructions prepared by his EN-
peror which outline the general policy
which ne is authorized to pursue.
/ They are IN many respects elastic ana
will aid rather than hamper Mr Wltte.
proyided the terms submitted by ia
nan. in his opinion. appear reason
able. II was also made plain by sew
eral Of Mr.. Whites suite that he had
NOT come 10 the Washington confer
( ence to obtain peace at any price.
/ officially the Russian mission Is, OF
/ course. unaware OF Japan's terms.
and until they have been handed TO
/ Nj Witte by Baron Komura, Russia
will await results patiently and with
| out anxiety" was the way close
/ friend of Mr.. Witte expressed the at
titude of his country
When the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse
arrived at her pier Mr.. White handed
to Professor De Martens the following
statement. which Professor De Martens
read aloud
For the friendly greetings Of the
| American newspapers upon my nrst
visit to the hospitable shores Of the
United States | offer my heartfelt
thanks This kind attention touches
me all the more profoundly because /
realize the yastness Of the power WELD
ed by the press OF the United States
and admire the keen intelligence with
which It is uniformly directed. One OF
/ the noblest of these acts is the estab-
/ ushment Of peace and friendship
among nations. and il is to the praise
worthy efforts of the people OF the
United States in this direction that my
visit to the New World is attributable.
For II is in compliance with the Ameri-
] for Of " H. n
| President Roosevelt was the authorized
/ exponent that his majesty. the car
| has empowered me TO come hither and
ascertain the conditions which our gal
liant adversary deems necessary and
adequate as a basis for peace negotla-
| tions. I need hardly point out that II
/ is my ardent desire that the two chiy-
| alrOus foes. who first became acquaint-
ed on the field of battle, may have
/ found in each others sterling qualities
motives powerful enough to cultivate
] that acquaintanceship until it ripens
| into everlasting friendship. Meanwhile,
however, the terms offered must first
be ascertained. weighed and Judged ad-
Missile by Russia before she can pro-
coed to formal negotiations. Hitherto
/ as YOU are aware, it was customary in
cases like this TO settle all such prelim-
inaries before the meeting Of the pleni-
| potentiaries. whose task it was to come
to a final agreement on the matters
| under discussion Now the very fact
that his majesty. the car, consented to
take a course involving departure from
| this ancient diplomatic usage and to
! appoint a commission to learn the ma
ture of our brave enemy's terms Is an
eloquent token OF the friendly feeling
which he and his subjects continue to
cherish towards the people OF the
| United States. ] say continue TO cher
| ish. because at no epoch in our history
have our traditional relations with this
great republic been other than cordial
And now I should like to say, aye, to
prove to your people, who live less In
the past than In the present and the
future. that II Is the feryent wish OF
the emperor and the people OF Russia
further to strengthen the ties of friend
ship which have hitherto subsisted be-
tween the two nations.
1T is in virtue OF that sincere de-
sire that his majesty, the car, waving
all other considerations. has unhesi-
tatingly accepted the cordial invitation
of your first citizen and genial leader.
And If my mission should prove In all
other respects barren and the endeayor
to find a common basis for peace nego-
lions should fail for the time being,
the signal proof of friendship given by
his majesty. the car. and the Russian