The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26
Stockholm the Place
Where Peace May
Be Arranged.
END IS IN SIGHT
Great Secrecy Main
tanned During the
Conferences.
JAPAN HOLDS KEY
Issue Depends Upon
the Extent of Her
Demands.

PARIS, March 2e, 1880 q. n.-Inquiry
late last night tends to strongly con-
firm the statement In yesterdays dis
patches that approaches toward peace
between Russia and Japan have al
ready been begun at a private confer
ence In a northern European capital.
In view Of the statement from ST.
Petersburg that pour parleurs were go
ing on in Paris. a press correspondent
last night called at the Russian EN-
bassy and the Japanese legation EN-
bassador Nehdoff stated specifically
that he knew nothing about such ne
gotiations being in progress here and
Minister Motono, while declining to
discuss the general question Of peace,
authorized the statement that no pour
parleurs were occurring IN Paris. At
the Foreign Ofhcs also 1t was stated
that officials there were not aware OF
steps toward peace.
The foregoing statements by Count
Nelidoff and DR.. Motono, while indicat-
ing that negotiations are not proceed
ing here. do not alter the main state
ment that peace preliminaries are ac-
tually progressing elsewhere The real
explanation is probably to be found In
the Paris dispatch Of last evening that
preliminary conference had already
been held at a northern European cap
ital. There are strong indications that
this capital is Stockholm and that the
negotiations will be conducted at
that city II the preliminaries prove
successful Copenhagen also is men
toned, but 1t Is understood that the
point was raised against past or fu-
ture conferences there that large
nd fr1f7r tel al =
that capital, whose sympathies might
be hostile to Russia
NAMES NOT REVEALED.
The parsonage acting for Russia in
the preliminary stage Of the negotia-
tions is described as leading gen
eraI."
The parsonage acting for Japan is not
disclosed. but he is believed to be one
who has heretofore taken no promi-
nent part in japanese affairs.
There is reason to believe that ST.
Petersburg and Toxic are aware Of the
results of the meeting and that sim
liar information is in the possession OF
certain diplomatic circles in Paris
This simultaneous receipt of identical
information in ST. Petersburg and
Paris probably accounts for ST. Pc
tersburg's view that the preliminariss
actually occurred here.
Concerning the final result OF peace
efforts they seem to hinge less upon
the actual terms than upon Japan's
willingness to pause during the sue
ceSsful elimination OF her military
campaign. as japan Is proceeding on
the theory that once In possession OF
Vladivostok she can dictate her own
terms. including an indemnity. which
Russia thus far has strongly resisted
HAYASHI STILL DENYING.
LONDON. March 25.-OnlciaIs and
diplomats in. London preservs a
sphynx-like silence on the subject OF
peace prospects In the Far East The
information contained In the press
dispatches from ST. Petersburg to-day
was conveyed to Baron Hayashi, the
Japanese Minister TO Great Britain.
The Minister disclaimed all knowledge
of negotiations and repeated his for
mer statement that Japan intended to
continue the war until Russia ex-
pressed desire TO make terms OF
peace.
While, naturally. It IL impossible TO
obtain any direct confirmation from
official sources, the manner OF the re-
ceptton of the press information by
officials conveys the impression that
there Is cognizance of tentative pro-
ceedings, at.least. and that much more
is known than will be admitted.
In well informed circles in London
It has been known Tor some time thar
peace in the near future Is not only
possible, but probable. All move
ments leading up to the commence.
ment of actual negotiations have been
concealed under such a successful
show of ignorance that even those in
the closest confidence OF the highest
personages have been deceived. A
British official said to-day.
Even If I knew it were true that
these negotiations were going on I
would consider it little less than a
crime to give out even hint OF their
nature, as so much hangs In the ball
ance and so much might be lost by
premature disclosures"
CAR KNOWS JAPAN'S TERMS.
WASHINGTON. March 25.-when
the dispatch from St. Petersburg re-
rardfng peace was shown the diplO-
mat to-day on whose authority the
press on March IS announced from
Washington that the Russian EN-
peror knew the general terms on