The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-18
PEACE STILL FAR.
0FF W|TT|''.E||:. FEARS. i|. !
Russian Envoy Doubtful.
of ReSultSOf OfC0ming
Conference,
DECLARES CAR CAN
FIGHT FOR YEARS.
Emperor Anxious to End War.
But Will Not Accept Any
Terms Proposed-Nation Not
on Verge Of Dissolution.
Crisis Grave, But
Will Pass.

.(By Associated Press.

II E.I
ST. PETERSBURG, July i'm. WItte.
the senior Russian peace plenipotcntlary,
received the correspondent OF the Asso-
clated Press at his villa, on Yelagin Is
land day. NJ Witte spoke In French.
After greetings, which were cordial, the
conversation gravitated quickly to the
high mission with which the Russiun
statesman Is charged and the disposition
Of the foreign press to interpret his ap-
pointmer,t as an Indication that Russia
has decided to make peace at any price
Z mo, no." no said, strengthening up In
his chair ana speaking slowly and dis
tinctly, as II Weighing the value OF each
word ,s
mated by the Emperor as his ambassador
extraordinary for pour parlers with the
Japanese plenipotentlaries to ascertain
whether itis possible to conclude q treaty
OF peace. My personal views are Of sec
ondary Importance, but my ideas are In
entire accord with those OF my friend.
Count Lamsdorff. In serving my Emperor
I have received precise instructions from
His Majesty and shall follow them.
Prospect Not Bright.
lrThe ultimate decision remains In the
hands of the Emperor. and It Is for him
to decide the destinles Of Russia. The
Emperor Is the friend of peace and de-
sires peace, but very much fear that the
Japanese terms Will be such that we vsiil
be i'm able to reach an accord.
= "a a
mind that Russia wants peace at any
price. There are two parties In Russia.
One favors the continuance Of the war
a outrance. This is q large and influen-.
tial party The other. to which l belong.
favors peace. avow 1t frankly, because
telling the truth has always been my rule
in politics. was for peace before hos
,tlities broke out. When the war began
the situation changed. q
# Even though there are these two par
ties as to the advisablty; Of ending the
war In the present circumstances, both
would be united II the Japanese demands
wounded the amour propre OF the Rus
sian people or jeopardlzed our future as
nation. am sure II i report that the
conditions Of Japan cannot be accepted,
Russia VIII accept the verdict, and Rus
Sian people Will be ready to continue the
war for years Unnecessary. @
..Thircy, Russia Is not crushed, as the
foreign press has led the world to be-i
lieve. The interior situation Is very serl-
GUS. do not deny, but in Europe and
America the true significance Of what Is
happening is not understood. Correspond
ents come here and talk w!thfn n few hun
drcd people in st. Petersburg and Mos
COW, mislnterpret what Is happening, and
fill the world with false Impressions as to
Russla's future.
"RussIa Is not on the verge OF dlssolu-
ton as "a great power, and is not Obliged
to accept any conditions offered, in spite
OF the military reverses she has sustained.
We are passing through an Internal crisis
which has been marked by many grave
events and which may have others still
In store, but the crisis Will pass, and In
a few years Russia Will again take her
place as preponderant power In the
European concert" III