New-York tribune., 1905-06-09
HOPE GROWS STRONGER IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS.
RUSSI4N PEOPLE DEMAND NATIONAL AoohnpA1
TO DECIDE FOR PEACE OR VAR

: cate that the Ambassador is coinpeiieo 10 oi'
play the greatest reserve ,
Tbere IS a significant change in tone on the
mort of some of the Russian newspapers like
the "Novoe Vremya," which never hereloio
have even admitted the possibility of peace until
Russ;a had won a. victory To-day the papers
calmly discuss the advisab bility of enons the
war if Japan's terms are reasonable 1he pay
ment of a big indemnity. they declare "oulu
be TOO humiliating. The ''Novoe Nrefnya say
that If Japan asks too much 1t VIII pay fussi"
to proong the contest indefinitely while the
"Russr argues that il representatives of the
Russian neopIe are called together Japan viii
see herself confronted by the whole nation, ana
she will readily agree TO reasonaps n ssd .are
NOT traitors They fighting the present
rotten bureaucracy and not the mother country.
They would not tolerate a dsgraceful peace
Paris June Sit is definitely known that the
Russian Foreign Minister. Count Laulsdorff, sec
onded by NJ Wtte, president of the Committee
of Ministers has initiated overtures through the
Russian representatives abroad to learn Japans
dsposition and terms of peace. These overtures
it is said here, began three days ago, and were
the basis for the decidedly more hopeful view
which the officials began to have. At the same
time it was then and still is recognized that
Count Lamsdorff and NJ. Witte represent the
peace element, and it is not yet clear how far
the movement is shared by the Emperor Count
Lamsdorff's position, however, gives the over
lures the force of coming from responsible quar-
ters, whereas the previous movements lacheu
official origin. This clears the way for the con-
yersations between officials and diplomats mere
and at other capitals which are now activeiy
going on. NJ Nelidoff, the Russian Ambassador
here, has already conferred with the French
authorities. who fully aware Of the desires OF
Count Lanlsdorn and NJ. witte. The change OF
the Foreign Office portfolio from M Delcasse 10
Premier Rouvier caused slight delay put lilel9
is every indication that M. Rouvier will leno
strong aid toward bringing the belligerents to-
gether. British and American in1luences aLe
chiefly relied on to move japan, now that I. oouLi'
Lamsdorf and M. Witte have mace the pieii'
mary approaches.
Berlin, June S-The interviews Baron Spech
Won Sternburg the German Ambassador at
Washington, has had with President Roosevelt
and the cable correspondence between the Am
bassador and the Foreign Office here resulted IN
the President and the Emperor finding that
they had identical views peace. and were
nearly of the same opinion as to the methoo OF
drawing Russia and Japan into negotiations.
The joint view appeared to be that Others m
Guiding France and Great Britain. ought to De leit
out because to make sure of community u
views among all would be a slow and cumbersome
business and would impress Russia as taxing
on the character Of outside pressure TINS is
precisely
formed President Roosevelt and Emperor WILL
lam wish to avoid. They wanted the emperor
Of Russia to take the initiative and sought only
that he should avail himself Of the American
and German governments as instruments tor
making the first step toward peace easier Inc
Russian government informed through
Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassador at
Washington; through Count Alvensleben. the
German Ambassador at St Petersburg; through
Mr. Meyer the American Ambassador at St
Petersburg, and through Count Won Osten-
Sacken, the Russian Ambassador at Berlin, OF
what the United States and Germany were
seeking. SO that Ambassador Meyers audience
Of Emperor Nicholas prepared for in the
fullest manner. The understanding here is that
Emperor Nicholas went so far as to say to Mr.
Meyer that he would like to know what Japan's
terms would be. This inquiry was not to be
construed asking for peace but only as tell
ing friends that before taking so grave a step
their advice the Russian government might
properly and naturally desire to know through
those friends how Japan regarded peace. Japan
it is believed in government quarters here, VIII
be reluctant to state specific peace conditions
because preparations had been made to carry
vostok and Hardin and then exclude Russia
from the Pacific.