Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-14
PLEASED OVER W|TTE
Czar's Ten-Strike in His
Appointment.
CORDIAL PRESS TONE
CHIEF ENVOY WILL LEAVE WE'D
NESDAY FOR PARIS.
Prolonged Audience With Emperor To-
day-Selection Said to Insure Har-
mony Among Delegates.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 14.-M. Witte
had prolonged audience of the emperor
this afternoon, at which the whole subject
or the peace negotiations was gone over In
detail. The difficulties of the situation were
freely discussed and indications were given
that his majesty is more apt personally to
govern NJ. Whites course than the formal
instructions which have been given him.
NJ Witte will leave st. Petersburg next
Wednesday for Paris, sailing, as previously
announced, from Cherbourg July 26 on the
North German Lloyd steamer Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse Nine. Witte will accom-
pany her husband far as Paris, where
she will remain for the present, though she
may possibly join NJ. Witte later in the
United States
AT NJ. Whites personal solicitation, NJ.
korotovitz, one of the ablest young diplo-
mats, who formerly was secretary of the
Russian legation at Peking, will be at
tached to the Russian mission.
Formal Announceent.
NJ. Whites appointment chief Russian
peace plenipotentiary was announced to-
day in the Official Messenger in the follow
ing words:
Owing to the serious illness which over
took NJ. Muravieff on his arrival In st.
Petersburg, which made 1t impossible for
him to familiarize himself at short notice
with the considerable material connected
with the negotiations his majesty the en-
peror has been pleased to appoint President
of the Committee of Ministers Witte to the
post of chief plenipotentiary.'
spontaneously all parties recognize that
NJ. Whites selection makes for a successful
termination of the peace negotiations. The
mere fact that the emperor at last yielded
to tl,a niv,., i-
accepted being a complete assurance
that his majesty is sincerely determined to
erd the conflict and make peace If a pos
sible basis is obtainabe. Every influence
which championed NJ. Witte was for peace.
while the contrary in every instance
those who opposed him were for prolonga-
tion of the struggle.
France Favored Witte,
France, through Ambassador Nelidon,
strongly urged him for the post but the
main credit for NJ. Whites selection belongs
to Foreign Minister Lamsdorff, who never
ceased to press for his selection. Count
Lamsdorff and NJ. Witte are now in close
alliance, and when NJ. Bouligin retres from
the ministry of the interior all the minis
ters will at least be in harmony, especially
should Prince Sviatopolk- Mirsky, as rumor
today intimates, return to the head of the
ministry OF the interior. The papers here
NJ. Whites appointment was an accom-
plished fact. but with one voice those in
the secret hail his selection with intense
satisfaction. Even the Novoe Vremya,
which has not believed that an honorable
peace is possible seems willing to trust
the issue in NJ. Whites hands.
Inspires Confidence.
The st. Petersburg Gazette dwells espe-
cially upon the confidence with which his
appointment will inspire the Tokyo govern
ment, where NJ. Whites opposition to the
whole policy of commercial and military
adventure in Manchuria and Korea is well
known The paper reviews his steady
struggle against the influences which pre-
cipitated the war, and moreover points out
that NJ Whites selection insures harmony
among the Russian plenipotentiaries ana
delegates, as Baron Rosen shares NJ. Wltte 8
views, and NJ. Pokotiloff and NJ Shipor
were trained under him while he was min
lister of finance and belong distincuvely to
the Witte school. In conclusion the st.
Petersburg Gazette says:
There is nothing so important during the
negotiations as complete unity OF opinion.
M. Muravieff has already departed for
Rome to resume his post as ambassador.