The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-18
MAY FIGHT ON.
Russia Not Prepared for Peace at ANY
Price.

st. Petersburg July 1S.-M Witte,
the senior Russian peace plenipoten-
tiary, received the correspondent of
the Associated Press at his villa on
Yelagin island. In according the
honor of an interview to the Associ-
ated Press, he said he expressly de-
sired it stated that he had declined
all previous requests of journalists fer
interviews and would decline all future
requests. He further said that he
made an exception in the case of the
Associated Press, as it was the repre-
sentative of the press of the Uyited
States, and as he was about to be-
come the temporary guest OF the
United States, and also as a mark of
the'particular sympathy he felt toward
that great country.
NJ. Witte spoke III French After
greetings, which were cordial, the
conversation gravitated quickly 20 the
high mission with which the Russian
statesman is charged and the dispo-
Sition of the foreign press to interpret
his appointment as an indication that
Russia had decided to make peace at
any price.
mo, no. said he, Strengthening up
in his chair and speaking slowly and
distinctly, as if weighing the value of
each word. I'm the first place 1 have
been designated by the emperor as his
ambassador extraordinary for pours
parlers with the Japanese plenipoten-
tIaries to ascertain whether it is pos
Sible to conclude a treaty of peace NV
personal views are of secondary i'm
portance, but my ideas are in entire
accord with those of my friend, Count
IiamsdOrff.
I'm serving my emperor, I have re-
celved precise instructions from his
majesty and shall follow them.
The ultimate decision remains in
the hands of the emperor and it is
for him to decide the destinies of Rus
sia- The emperor is the friend of
peace and desires peace, but 1 very
much fear that the japanese terms
will be such that we will be unable to
reach an accord.
Secondly, the world should dfsa-
buse its mind of the idea that Russia
wants peace at any price. There are
two parties in Russia. One favors the
continuation of the war. This is a
large and influential party The
other, to which I belong, favors peace.
avow it frankly, because telling the
truth has always been my rule in poll
tics. I was for peace before hostili-
ties broke out. When the war began.
the situation changed.
Even though there are those two
parties as to the advisability of ending
the war in the present circumstances
both would be united if the Japanese
demands wounded the amor propre
Of the Russian people or jeopardized
our future as Z nation.
''I am sure if [ report that the con-
dltions of Japan cannot be accepted
Russia will accept the verdict and the
Russian people will be ready to con-
tInue tire war fo- ys-ars if necessary.
Thirdly, Russia is not crushed. as
the foreign press has led the world to
believe. The interior situation is verv
serious, I do not deny, but in Europe
and America the true significance of
what is happening is not understood.
Correspondents come here and talk
with few hundred people in St.
Petersburg and Moscow, misinterpret
what is happening and fill the world
with false imp essions as to Russia's
future
Russia has little resemblance to
Western countries To know Russia