Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-14
Russia Takes the Public
Into Its Confidence.
Tells How Pleased She Is at
Presidents Proposition.


St. petersburg, June If.-t2.lo.).-
Instead of publishing the text of its
official reply to the message from Pres
idcnt Roosevelt regarding the initiation
of peace negotiations with Japan, Rus
STA has decided, with the purpose of
taking the public into it's confidence
regarding the prospects of peace, to is
sue a statement summarizing the sta
tus Of negotiations, Which will appear
in the form of a communication in the
Foreign Office Gazette, today. The
text of the statement is as follows:
THE President of the United States
instructed his ambassador to the i'm
perial court to request a private au-
dience in order to convey directly to the
Emperor assurances of the unfailing
friendship the United States enter
tains for Russia, and to express Presi-
dent Roosevelt's personal desire to
contribute as much as possible, in the
interest of the whole world, towards
the cessation of hostilities in the Far
East The ambassador was instructed
to add that the President was making
simultaneous overtures to the Japan
csc government.
1.-THE Emperor was pleased to receive
the American ambassador, June Z, and
gave benevolent attention to President
Roosevelt's initiative. which had,
moreover met an entirely sympathetic
reception on the part of friendly pow
erS.
Russia being convinced that Japan
was equally disposed to accept Presi-
dent Roosevelt's proposal. which was
transmitted through the intermediary
of the representatives of the republic
at S. Petersburg and Toxic. to the i'm
perial as we'll as the Japanese govern
ment. received favorably the official
communication from the amba ssad
and notification to this effect was pub
,ished in Washington.
"In reply to this communication the
foreign minister. acting under the En-
peror's orders, informed the American
ambassad in note dated June l.,
that the Emperor. deeply sensible of the
sentiments expressed by the President.
was pleased to see therein a fresh mark
of the traditional friendship uniting
Russia and America. and precious
proof that President Roosevelt was in
complete accord with the views the
Emperor held on general settlement
so essential to the good progress of
the whole of mankind. AS for an event.
ual meeting of Russia and japanese
pleniDotentiaries charged with ascer-
tanning how far it would be possible
for the two powers to elaborate con-
ditions of peace, the imperial govern
ment would have no objection in prin-
ciple to such an attempt if the Japan
csc government expressed desire
therefor"
The fact that the Japanese govern
ment has not yet communicated to
Russia as to the time and place and the
number of pl2uipotentiaries is not con-
sidcrei strange, inasmuch as the text
of the Russian reply. sent to Washing
ton. yesterday. could not have arrived
at Toxic, considering the difference in
time. until last night at the earliest.
Japan's terms continue to be matter
for animated speculation. A well-in-
formed diplomat who says he knew
Japan's terms before the battle of
Mukdcn, considers them to have been
very moderate. and believes that even
now they will be found to be not I'M
duly harsh.
Private aiviceS received from Rus
sian source at Shanghai say it is GER
tain that Japan will demand the sur
render of all ships interned in Eastern
waters. which may be another item
"ffsetting indemnity. Papers supposed
to have semi official inspirations, con-
tinue to speak obviously of the results,
nut it is noticeable that the cheap and
popular papers like the GaZetta plainly
advise the people to reconcile them
selves to defeat and peace. The paper
named says:
Defeat is not disgrace and will
not prevent developments. Look at
France. We have survived previous
misfortunes. We were beaten many
times by Poland and Lithuania, but
now they are ours
The I.istok. another popular paper.
pays glowing tribute to President
Roosevelt as 1.-The peace maker far be-
yOnd the seas" With peace in sight,
however, by a strange persistity some
of those who were loudest in it's favor
when 1t was below the horizon seem
suddenly to have changed their atti-
tude. finding it less attractive than
when 1t was opposed by the govern
ment.