Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-22
NOT ENTHUSIASTIC.
St. Petersburg Government Making
Slow Progress.
ISSUE STATEMENT TO The PUBLIC.


st. Petersburg, June 17.-Althoug
in the absence OF official advices tn
, Russian government is not yet abb
TO announce the definite conclusion
arrangements for the meeting Of tn
Russian and japanese Dlenipotenti
aries, the foreign Office Thursday nigh
authorized the statement that negotia
ton to that end were progressing rap
idly and issued communication 10
publication in Friday mornings news
papers acquainting the public with tn
speedy progress toward the opening o
the conference.
Count Cassini's report Of the selec
ton Of Washington from the citieI
favored by Russia has not yet arrived
but 1t is thought the ambassador II
waiting for the fixing Of the date o.
meeting which again will depend on thu
travelling arrangements Marquis Ito
president of the Japanese privy coun'
ell and M. Nelidoff, Russian ambassa-
dor to Paris, will be able to make and
on the time necessary to perform the
Journey. After final arrangements
have been made the foreign once, II
Is expected, will issue another oficial
note announcing the successful COM
pletion Of steps preliminary to the con-
ference and naming Russia's represen-
tative or representatives,
The communication to the foreign
Office is as follows:
According to advices from Washing
ton, Immediately after the receipt OF
the Russian note responding to the
proposition Of President Roosevelt ne
gotiations as to the place and the time
of meeting commenced. These nego-
tiations are proceeding speedily, but
are not yet actually finished"
Pessimistic chauvinists are building
mountains out Of the wording Of the
Associated press dispatch from Wash
ington announcing that Great Britain
was willing to use her influence with
Japan to moderate the allys terms, de-
claring that II 1t meant that Great
Britain had sounded Japan and found
her in a mood to insist on heavy In
demnity and other humlllatlng de-
mands, It also meant the indefinite
prolongation Of the war. The general
disposition, however, is to suspend
Judgement until Japan reveals her
terms and in diplomatic circles there
Is a hopeful feeling that these terms
will form the basis Of possible agree
ment. In conversation Thursday with
a friend M. Witte, president Of the
council of ministers, delivered himself
along the lines Of the interview with
him printed in the Slovo Wednesday
morning which was filled with the
gloomiest forebodlngs as related in
these dispatches and in which M. White
declared that he would not serve as
one Of the plenipotentiarles for three
reasons, the last Of them being that
he should do everything to avoid 1t.
Even II the rumor Of LamsdorR's
resignation is true, which insist is not
the case" said M. Witte in the Slovo
interview. "the main situation would
not be changed and the first and third
reasons would hold for me-"
As the Associated press stated while
M. Whites name was not mentioned
in the interview the veil Of his identity
could be easily pierced.
In the conversation Thursday M.
White confirmed the statement that It
was utterly impossible that he could
participate In the peace negotia-
lions, supplementing 1t on other
grounds with the unique reason
that he had been educated to consider
the japanese an inferior race and
would therefore be unable to discuss
with them terms Of peace during a
war wherein Russia was not victor.
Far from being entrusted with the re-
sponslbllity Of conducting negotiations
he declared bitterly that he was not |
even consulted regarding the affairs Of |
his own department.
NJ. Witte manifested keen feeling
over the rise Of Gen. Trepoif as min |
lister Of the Interior. saying:
II knew nothing Of what is being |
done either for peace or for reform.
Tell me what Trepoff advises and
will tell you what the car will do.
Trepoh is the real ruler Of Russia"
Gen, Kleigels, governor general Of |
Kieff, has arrived In st. Petersburg
and gossip is connecting his name with
the governor generaIship Of St Peters,
burg as an assistant to Gen. Trepoti.