The Washington times., 1905-06-20
Japan's Eagerness for Peace
May Indicate Exhaustion

, Speculation is rife here as to the char
acter of the demands Japan will present
to the Russian plenipotentiaries =hsn
the peace conference convenes here In
August.
More expert diplomacy will probably
De exhibited In this meeting than at
any similar convention in the past CEN
tury AT the same time, in the words
oI thorough student of military and
ulpiomatic affairs, the drawing of cards
VIII De the most careful and the con-
cealment of hands, the most astute In
history
reaction Of sentiment is noticeable
In washington as to the conditions lead
ing up to the negotiations While Rms
sia opposition to treating was consider
ed during the past month to be prac-
ticaliy the only obstacle to successful
preliminary negotiations, the question ts
now asked why Japan showed herself
so ready in the first steps, in view of the
absolute victories of her navy and her
apparently unqeestioned supremacy ON
land
Keen foT Peace.
Japan insisted that the first move Por
peace must come from her adversary.
et IN Inc hnal analysis she apparently
was most Keen for d peace meeting
NO man on earth outside a small
coterie OF Japanese statesmen at Tokyo
IS acquainted with Japan's real posf-
tioh' SAID high authority today.
Even foreign attaches, naval and mill
tary. know positively nothing of what
Japan has spent during this war. or OF
her present financial and tactical situa.
ton.
The japanese policy OF secrecy has
extended TO every branch of the SER
vice, at home and in the field History
records nothing TO approach the success
OF this undertaking from the beginning
OF the war Is it not possible that con-
ditions exist which make imperative an
early peace for the japanese?
When Test Will Come.
The deliberations of plenipotentiaries
will soon develop Japan's position if the
russians are as apt as formerly in the
gentle art OF exposing their adyerSaries
IN diplomatic intercourse. If Japan has
reached that point on the uphill road
of offensive warfare where her mo-
mentum must begin to fail, then her de-
nands viii eventually take such form
that even Russia must consider them
reasonable"
1t is pointed out that both high con-
tracing parties in this International
business have been burnt in former
deals. Russia saw the fruits of u cost
ly war snatched from her hands in the
congress OF Berlin, when she found thAS
the only benefit of having whipped tho
Turks was the honor thereof
Japan, after the Chinese war, ten
years ago, not only lost everything she
had gained but laid the foundation Tor
this most costly war OF her history.
Masters In Diplomacy.
Both nations come to the conference
room schooled in postwar diplomacy
by bitter experience, and each Will find
Il cautious antagonist in every depart
ment of the game.
The report from ST. Petersburg this
morning that Ambassador Cassini is to
remain in his presenS post at this
Capital until the conclusion OF the peace
conference, tends TO confirm the belief
generally held here that Baron de
Rosen. who has been selected TO sue
ceed him. will be one OF the plentpoten-=
tiaries on the part of Russia
In that capacity he would be unable
To perform the duties OF ambassador TO
the United States Russia would hardly
leave the embassy here under the di-
roction of Il mere charge daffaireS DUR
ing the peace negotiations.
When the ciange in ambassadors was
fiji ST announced. 1t was said that Count
Cassini would leave Washington early.