Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-10
President Roosevelt Desires That the
Warning Nations Come TO Terms
cASSINI WILL NOT ADMIT NEED
In Conference AZ the White House
the President Declares That Rus
sis's Military Position is Now Hope
less and That Further Fighting Can
Only Serve TO Increase Jarsn's De
made.

Washington. Specialize President
Friday struck a blow for peace in the
Tar East. In a 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.
PrOlongation OF the war, he be-
ueves. viii not result in victory for
the Russian arms and can only render
more difficult the drafting OF a treaty
CT peace which the Car as well as
the Mikado can sign. The President
spoke. he said. as the friend OF Rus
STA no less than OF Japan, and on be-
half not only OF the Washington gov.
eminent. but the interest OF humanity.
The President informed the ambas-
sador that in expressing hope Tor an
early peace he voiced not only his
strong personal sentiments ana those
OF his government bat be believed
these were held by all OF the powers
his opinion was that il would be
mistake Tor Russia 90 continue the
war. In addition 20 tho suffering en-.
tailed by the naval conflict. he did
not believe that Russia has anything
20 win N procrricg hostiitios.
The Pre-. dent did not enter into dc.
tails. b-t the personal nature OF the
conversation and Lis Ions acQuain-
.rrH f.H d. t~.r
90 talk plainly regarding the decisive
character % Jauans victories. what
Japan probable Peace terms would
be. the President was wholly unable
90 say. aut DE did not hesitate 20 ex-
press the opinion that difficult as these
conditions might prove ina the light
~ such victory as that gained in the
Korean Straits. they would increase
in severity with every day that a
state OF war continued. Unless Rus
STA has substantial hope of administer.
Ing decisive defeat 90 Japan I'm this
war. the President believed it would
!uure 10 the interests ~ the Peters.
burg government % conclude peace at
once.
Having received no word from his
government since the humiliation OF
Rojestvens ky's fleet save the brief Of
fetal dispatches telling of the cneac &c.
menL Count Cassini was unable 90 90
more than 20 give the President his
own personal opinions on the sitCa.
ton. The ambassador was deeply
touched by the sincere cOrdiality OF
his reception and the frank and friend
" manner in which the President
spoke. He could not see. however.
that there was anything in the pres
ent situation. unfortunate as &c un-
coubtediy was for his government
which ueccssltated Russia's suing for
peace AS 20 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 Russia had nothing more
20 lose. be said. IL was the ambassa-
doris firm opinion that this was not
the psychological moment" ia which
90 discuss peace with Japan. What
ever might bee the ultimate decision
OF his government. be took the ground
that Russia could lose nothing 10y
waiting or by continuing the war on
land. There was hope yet OF a vic
tory for the Russian arms. il was sug
Ecsted. and in any event Russia bad
not yet lost one foot az territory and
that there was no Russian frontier en-
dangcred.
The ambassador pointed out that
there was not the slightest Official in
timation from any source as 10 ia
pans probable peace terms. and that
these demands as stated unOmcially
were altogether impossible" II ia
pans terms should prove anything
like as severe as they have been re
ported. 10 was the ambassadors opin
ION that Russia could advantagcously
continue the war indefinitely, and
eventually win a victory on land
That his government would so decide
he did not wish 10 predict. but at last
accounts the Emperor was FOR con
tinuatiOn OF the war
Count Cassini will transmit an &C
count OF the conference TO the Car