Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-08-02
BRITISH FAVOR JAPS JAPS TOOK RYkOFF.
WHATEVER THE PEACE Terms
JAHNNY BULL WILL APPROVE. !.
British Government Refuses to Render
Assistance to Washington In lts e..
fort to Obtain an Armistice, A..
though It Has Their Full Sympathy
Thinks Terms Will BE Reasonable.

Washington, Aug. Japan comes
to the Washington conference assured
that whatever her peace terms, they
will have the sympathetic approval of
Great Britain. Several suggestions
from Washington to London that the
cause of peace would be served by
an explanation to Japan from her ally
favoring moderation in her demands
upon Russia have not availed to
change the British government in its
apparently unalterable determination
to stand by Japan, however severe she
makes her conditions of peace.
Nor has the British government
seen its way clear to render assist
ance to Washington in the efforts
which this government is making to
obtain an armistice. Advices reaching
here show that London is opposed to
an armistice until Japan has been sat-
isfied that Russia's plenipotentiaries
are prepared to do more than discuss
means for ending the war; If Russia
is ready to conclude peace and has so
empowered her plenipotentiaries,
Great Britain, it is believed, might ia
vor an armistice, but even in this
event, 1t is said, she would not be
willing to offer Japan advice on the
SUBJECT.
AS understood in Washington, Lord
Lansdowne's position is that, as the
loyal ally of Japan, Great Britain can
afford to take no steps nor assume any
attitude that would in the remotest de.
gree rebound to the advantage Of ia
pans enemy. However much London
may wish peace for humane reasons
her loyalty to Japan, whose pledged
any she is, prevents her even from in
directly bringing pressure to bear by
suggestions, advice or otherwise at
Toxic regarding negotiations, the eff.
feet Of which might serve to moderate
Japan's peace conditions or hasten a
truce. When Japan asks her ally for
advice, the London government, it is
said, is prepared Immediately to give
it, but this advice will be based on
Japan's interest as primary consider
alton.
Nor is this attitude on the part of
the London government .misinterpret-
ed in Washington as indicating that
its officials do not share in the wish
Of the neutral powers for peace. 1t
has made plain that the activity Of the
president has the full sympathy of
the British people, although their first
thought, it is declared, must be in the
interest of their ally.
Terms Not Unreasonable.
At the same time the London gov.
eminent, in its exchanges with the
American embassy in London, has not
hesitated to declare its confidence that
Japan's terms Will not be unreason-
able, viewed in the light of the re.
suits Of the war.
Believing, as official Washington
does, that Japan will not insist on the
ulsmantlement of Vladivostok, should
Russia fail to agree to it in return for
the neutra.,zation of Port Arthur, the
cession Of Sakha.In, which, it is under
stood, will ne among the essential con-
ditiOns, will, the officials here believe,
prove the most serious obstacle to
peace in the far east. Sakhalin had
not been captured when the president
initiated his efforts to bring the bel.
ligerents together. The fact that up to
that time Japan had not taken a foot
Of Russian territory simplified, in the
opinion of Washington and Berlin, the
problem of bringing about peace me-
gotiations.
Keen interest is felt here in the me-
gotiations which, it is understood, are
making substantial Roadway between
Japan and England looking to the re-
newal of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
The scope Of the alliance, it is known,
will considerably exceed the present
convention, though to what extent
neither Europe nor Washington has
been able to learn. The announcement
of the main points of the new alliance
soon after the conclusion Of the Wash.
ington conference would not surprise
diplomatic circles here.
JAMES pOpE CApTtIREn AT ACT