The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-06-29
SLOW TOWARD PEACE.
Both Parties Are Jockeying For the
Advantage.

washington, ~. I. Especial Peace
negotiations between Russia and Japan
have come to a dead halt on account OF
the illness of Count Lamsdorff, the Rus,
sian minister for foreign affairs. 1t is
explained officially that nothing in the
form of hitch has occurred, but that
the negotiations merely have been sus-
pended temporarily.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa.
dor, had a brief interview with Presi-
dent Roosevelt, but he had no addition
al important advices from his govern.
ment to communicate. He called mere
ly TO pay lis respects to the President
prior to the Iatter's departure for Oyster
Bay for the summer. They discussed
informally the peace situation, the Presi-
dent expressing his earnest hope that
another general engagement on the bat
tie field of Manchuria might be averted
by the negotiations for a permanent
peace now pending.
1t is learned that UP to this time sug,
gestionS for an armistice have not been
received with absolute favor by either
Russia or Japan. Quite naturally each
government is seeking an advantage over
the other in the diplomatic sparring that
IS gong OH now, and among those in
touch with the situation it is regarded as
unlikely that definite arrangements for
an armlStice will be concluded - even
II they should be concluded at all-be-
tore the formal meeting Of the pleni-
potentiarleS of the two powers.
AS heretofore noted, there is serious
apprehension that unless a temporary
suspension Of hostilities be arranged. a
great battle may be precipitated, the re-
suit of which might wreck completely
the pending peace negotiations.
1t was expected confidently that an
announcement of the names of the en-
voyS OF the two pewers to the Washing.
ton conference could be made bv the
end OF this week but, as matter OF
fact, the negotiations have not pro-
gresSed IN the least since Tuesday That
both Russia and Japan have decided
upon their representatives at the confer
ence is quite certain. but each govern
ment, tor reasons of its own declines to
make formal announcement Of them
1t seems scarcely probable, at this mo-
ment, that President Roosevelt will be
in position 10 authorize a further Off
cial statement of the status of the pend
ing negotiations before he goes TO OYSTER
Bay tor the summer. While both Rus
Sia aad Japan have indicated that they
may be ready TO open the conference
about the first of August, the belief in
wel-intormed quarters now is that the
convening of the plenipotentiaries is like
ly to be delayed and that they MAY not
get together until the middle or latter
part of August
St. Petersburg, June 24-Information
from the front is still scanty. While
the preliminarieS are in progress, a gen
eral engagement has not yet begun Sin
lster rumorS continue to circulate that
Linevitch is surrounded. but apparently
they have no other base than the Lon
don Daily Telcgram's dispatch from
Toxic. An optimistic feeling prevails
at the Offices of the general staff.
The negotiations for a meeting of peace
plenipotentiarieS are proceeding slowly.
There were no developments today. For
eign Minister LamSdorff is still i'll and
unable to see Ambassador Never.