The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-04
.HASN'I THE TIME
COME FOR PEACE2
So Roosevelt Asks Count
Cassini.
MuAT nAA VIII GAIN
WHAT CAN YOU GAIN :?
Mr.. Roosevelt Makes it Plain in a
Friendly Way That Russia is
Playing Losing Game. Cas-
siniDoesn't Agree With
Him in Words.
(By the Associated Press }

Washington, June 2.-The President
today struck a blow for peace in the
Far East In conference at the
White House this afternoon with
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa-
dor, the President expressed the earn
est hope that Russia would forthwith
conclude peace with Japan. Prolon-
CATION of the war, he believes, will not
result in victory for the Russian arms
and can only serve to increase Japan. s
demands and render more difficult the
drafting of treaty of peace, which
the Gar as well as the Mi kado can
sign The President spoke. he said,
as the friend of Russia no less than
of Japan and on behalf, not only of
the Washington government but in
the interest of humanity. The Presi
dent informed the ambassador that in
expressing hope for an early peace he
voiced not only his strong personal
sentiments and those of his govern
ment but he believed these were held
by all of the powers. His opinion was
that il would a mistake for Russia
to continue the war In addition to
the suffering entailed by the naval
conflict. he did not believe that Rus
STA has anything to win in prolOng-
ing hostilties. The President did
not enter into details but the per-
sonal character of the conversation,
and his long acquaintance with Count
Cassini enabled him to talk plainly re-
gardng the decisive character of the
Japanese victories
What Japans probable peoce terms
would be the President was wholly UNI
able to say. but he did not hesitate
to express the opinion that difficult as
these conditions might prove in the
light of such a victory as that gained
in the Korean Straits. they would in
crease in severity with every day that
a state of war continued. Unless
Russia has substantial hope of adj
ministering a decisive defeat to Japan
in this war, the President believed it
would inure to the interests of the
st. Petersburg government to conclude
peace at once.
The Reply of Cassini
Having received no word from his
government since the humiliation of
Rojestvenskys fleet. save the brief
official dispatches telling of the en-
gagement. Count Cassin was unable
10 do more than give the President
his own personal opinions on the sit
uation. The ambassador was deeply
touched by the sincere cordiality of
the reception and the frank and
friendly manner i'm which the Presi-
dent spoke. He could not see how
ever, that there was anything in the
present situation, unfortunate as it
undoubtedly was for his government.
which necessitated Russia's suing for
peace
AS to territory he pointed out that
China and not Russia had been the
loser, for even Port Arthur was held
only under lease. On the sea, Rus
STA had nothing more to lose he said
1t was the ambassadors firm opinion
that this was not "the psychological
moment" in which to discuss peace
with Japan. Whatever might be the
ultimate decision of his government,
he took the ground that Russia could
lose nothing either by waiting or by
continuing the war on land. There
was hope yet of a victory for the Rus
sian arms, it was suggested, and in
any event Russia had not yet lost one
foot of territory, nor was the Russian
frontier endangered.
The ambassador pointed out that
there was not the slightest official in
timation from any source as to Japan's
probable terms, and that these de-
mands as stated unofIicially were "al-
together impossible" If Japan
terms should prove anything like as
severe as they have been reported it
was the ambassadors opinion that
Russia could advantageously continue
tinue the war Indefinitely and eventu-
ally win victory on land That his
government would so decide he did
not wish to predict, but at last ac-
counts the Emperor was for a con-
tinuation of the war.
Count Cassini will transmit an ac-
count of the conference TO the Car.