Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1905-06-07

Washington, Specialize President
Friday struck blow for peace in the
far East. In 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.
ProlCngation of the war. he be.
lieves, VIII not result in victory for
the Russian arms and can only render
more difficult the drafting of treaty
OF neace which the Car as well as
the Mih2dC can sign. The President
spoke. he said, fas the friend of Rus
sla no less than of Japan, and on be-
half not only of the Washington gov
ornment. bat the interest of humanity
The PresiGent informed the ambas-
sador that in expressing hope for an
early peace he voiced not only his
strong personal sentiments and those
OF his government, but he believed
these were held by all OF the powers
His opinion was that it would be a
war. In addition to the suffering en-
tailed b. the naval conflict. he did
not believe that Russia has anything
to win n 2rolonging hostilities.
The President did not enter into de-
tails. but the personal nature of the
conversation and his long acquain-
lance with Count CaSsini enabled him
10 talk plainly regarding the decisive
character cf Japans victories. What
Japan's probable peace terms would
be, the President was wholly unable
to say. but he did not hesitate to ex-
press the opinion that difficult as these
conditions might prove in the light
of such a victory as that gained in the
Korean Straits. they would increase
in severity with every day that a
state OF war continued Unless Rus
sia has substantial hope of administer
ing decisive defeat to Japan in this
war. the President believed it would
inure TO the interests of the Peters
burg government to conclude peace at
once.
Having received no word from his
government since the annihilation of
RojestVensky's fleet save the brief Of
fetal dispatches telling of the engage
ment, Count Cassini was unable to do
more than to give the President his
own personal opinions on the situa-
ton. The ambassador was deeply
touched by the sincere cordality of
his reception and the frank and friend
ly manner in which the President
spoke. He could not see. however.
that there was anything in the pres
ent situation, unfortunate as it un-
doubtedly was for his government.
which nGrnSStfntRA pnccin', C,,;n rn
peace. As to 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
to lose, he said. 1t was the ambassa-
doris firm opinion that this was not
the psychological moment" in which
to discuss peace with Japan. What
ever might be the ultimate decision
of his government. he took the ground
that Russia could lose nothing by
waiting or by continuing the war on
land. There was hope yet of a vic
tory for the Russian arms, II was sug-
gested. and in any event Russia had
not yet lost one foot of territory and
that there was no Russian frontier en-
dangered.
The ambassador pointed out that
there was not the slightest official in
timation from any source as to ia
pans probable peace terms, and that
these demands as stated unofiicially
were altogether impossible" II ia
pans terms should prove anything
like as severe as they have been re-
ported. ii was the ambassadors opin-
ion that Russia could advantageously
continue tho war indefinitely. and
eventually win n victory on land.
That his government would so decide
he did not wish to predict. but at last
accounts the Emperor was for a con-
tinuation OF the war.
Count Cassini will transmit an ac-
count Of the conference To the Gar
Teleoraphic Briefs.