The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-18
READY FOR PEACE
JAPAN WILLING To NAME Her
TERMS.
But She FluSt In Advance Receive
Trustworthy Assurance That
Thev will Receive Serious Con.
SideratiOn-previOu Experience
Makes Her Cautious.

SC. foCof6Duf&, march l4.-Emp6IOI
Nicholas has summoned q war coun-
Gil for today, at which the whole stu
alton will be considered.
Washington, March 14.-When the
czar convenes his war council this az
ternoon he will be able to inform the
members that Japan will welcome
peace on reasonable terms and will
promptly name her conditions provid-
ing she receives trustworthy assurance
that they will be seriously considered.
Japan's Terms.
This the emperor has learned from
friendly chancellories in Europe, as
we'll as the general terms acceptable to
Japan. These, it is said, include the
retention by Japan Of Port Arthur, q
Japanese protectorate over Korea, and
an indemnity.
From high official the Associated
Press hears that Russia has recalled
her second Pacific squadron.
An attache of Russian EN- bassy in
Europe is quoted, expressing the belief
theat Kuropatkin's recent defeat will
force Russia to ask for peace.
Briefly these were the reports cur
rent in the diplomatic corps yesterday,
and as result of this important infor
nation official Washington believes
that Russia and Japan are on the verge
of peace. If it be true that the second
Pacific squadron has been recalled,
even the most optimistic of Russia g
friends admit that this is strong in
dication that Oyama's mighty blow
has made for peace.
Cassini SkepticaI.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambas-
sador, is the most notable exception in
the group of foreign ENJOYS here.
However generous the terms which
Japan might OFFER" the ambassador
said last night, "Russia's prestige is
net among them. That is the one
thing for which the war will be fought
to the end. Victory for the Russian
arms will alone make for peace. If
not Tie pass, then at Hardin, Russia
will assemble another army mightier
than before, and with that army she
will settle the issue. 1t may be six
months, year, or perhaps two years.
Time will be no consideration.
At the japanese legation it is declared
that st. Petersburg and not Tokyo is
the capital from which the world must
hope for peace proposals. Mr.. Taxa.
hira, the Japanese minister, said in the
most emphatic manner that Japan had
not directly proposed peace. He did
not deny that neutral powers, through
their ENJOYS, from time to time had
sounded japan as to terms on which
she would accept peace, but these, he
said, necessarily changed with the
progress of hostilities, the intlmation
| being that Russia could have obtained
better terms after the fall of Port Ar
thur than after the capture of Mukden.
Japan to Be Cautious.
If the Japanese government were as.
sured that peace proposals would be
considered by Russia there is authority
for the statement that Japan would re-
spond Immediately. But she will in
sist that these assurances shall be of
the most positive character. Japan's
experience in the negotiations proceed
ing the war, it is said, will make her
exceedingly cautious in the future.
She will insist that such assurances
shall come from the Russian govern
ment and not from this or that party
or this or that friend Of the emperor.
Officials here think by this time St.
Petersburg has fully comprehended
the extent of Oyama's victory, and
known its decision regarding the con-
tinuance of the war.