Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-11
PEACE TALK IN THE AIR.
Decisive Victory Of the jays Loads to
RenewaI Of Negotiations.

London. March 1.-THE decisive VIC
tory of the Japanese about Mukden mas
led to a renewal of peace talk In dlplo-
matte quarters 1t being reported that
Russia already has begun negotiations
for the Immediate termination of the
war. While this lacks confirmation
there is reason to believe both Rus
sia and Japan are being sounded.
While the dispatches from st. Pc
tersburg are more or less contlctins
the question of ending hostllities seems
to be uppermost.
Some critics here are inclined to the
belief that while Russia's fighting force
is disabled and probably will be oblig-
ed to retire farther than Tie pass or
even .1arbin, the fighting spirit of the
Russian nation would be ilscreased
rather than deferred by thu, defeat, and
that only compulsion will bring the ma
tion to its knees.
Negotiations Already Begun?
The Graphic in discussing the situa-
tion says:
I'VE have reason to believe that the
Russian foreign office has intimated to
the French government that the car
Is ready to entertain negotiations for
the immediate termination of the war
and that communications on the sub
ject of mediation now are passing be-
tween the French and British cabi-
nets. The Russian overtures will be
communicated to Japan by Great Britt
ain at an early date, II, indeed. this
step has not been taken already. The
pacific action of the Russian govern
ment Is understood to be not only due
to the hopelessness Of the military
situation in Manchuria but also to the
great difficulties. experienced in the
negotiations for loan in Paris"
Peace is Only Course.
The st. Petersburg correspondent OF
the Daily Mail says 1t seems to be TAX
en- for granted that nothing now re-
mains but to make peace. Many inn
portant officials take this view The
equipment OF new army of the mag
nitude demanded by the circumstances
is impossible.
The Vienna correspondent OF the
Telegraph says news from st. Peters
burg received in official quarters in
Vienna emphatically declares there is
no prospect whatever OF peace. The
war party, which persists in continue
ing the war, still has the upper hand
Discussing the possibilities of peace
and Russia being coweel by the great
defeat, the Spectator thinks that de
spite historic precedents it does not
follow that the emperor will make
peace. He lis credited. with saying
that 1t is only necessary to retire be-
hind Baikal, refuse peace. and rebuild
the forces till he is again ready for
aggressive action; and he may well
consider this course preferable to the
shame of being beaten by an Asiatie
nation and the possible dangers to his
dynasty involved in making peace on
the hard terms Japan lis likely to de-
mand."
Cars Course Problem.
This difficulty of predicting what
line Emperor Nicholas will take is adj
mitted on all sides; but there is still
in some quarters an opinion that peace
will ensue.
Baron Suyematsu, formerly Japanese
minister of the interior, in an interview
said that whether the victory indicat-
ed an early termination Of the war was
question that Russia alone could an
swer.
The Japanese legation has been in
undated with congratulations, and ev-
erywhere the prime rote was praise
of the genius Of Oyama, which was
conceded even by the most pro-Russian
observers.