Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-13
MOVING WITHOUT A HITCH
Preliminary Negotiations for Peace
Drawing to Conclusion

Preliminary Negotiations Tor Peace
Drawing to Conclusion
BY Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 12.--All the
attempts to create an impression that
there Il the slightest hitch in the pre-
liminary negotiations are absolutely
without the shadow of foundation. For
eign Minister Lamsdorff has formally
notified several of the powers that a
meeting Of the plenipotentiaries to see
whether 1t is possible to agree to terms
of peace is assured. Now that Russia
has received formal notification that
Japan has sent an official and favor
able reply to President Roosevelt the
Russian official reply will be forwarded,
and the Associated Press is in posi-
ton to state positively that the reply
will fully respond to the presidents
message. There does not seem to be
the slightest warrant for the gratuitous
idea put forth by some correspondents
that Russia is only desirous Of ascer-
tanning the Japanese conditions and, st
the same time. gaining better posi-
ton for her. army in Manchuria.
Japan Expected to Move First
The warning countries both having
formally agreed to try to conclude
peace, the next step will be the first
direct exchange in which japan is ex-
pected to take the initial step by indi-
eating, doubtless through an inter-
mediary at Washington, her views as
to the time and place of the meeting.
Russia will offer no objections to any
reasonable suggestion in this respect.
1t is proposed to at once issue instruc
tions to her preliminary plenipotentiary,
whose personality for the moment de-
pends upon the place of meeting.
A statement is now made that M
Witte is going to Berlin to meet Prince
Arisugawa, who represented the EN-
peror at the wedding of Crown Prince
Frederick william, but no confirmation
of this can be obtained. In the public
mind M. Witte stands out prominently
should direct the peace negotiations.
But an intimate friend of the Russian
statesman assures the Associated Press
that he knows NJ. Witte has not been
approached on the subject.
Always Opposed the War
NJ Witte is thoroughly familiar with
the far eastern question in all it bear
ings. He understands the Japanese
position and fully realized, before the
war, that the aggressive policy being
pursued under the lead of Viceroy
Alexieff and NJ. Bezobrazoff, president
of the Yalu Timber company, and the
coterie of adventurers connected with
them, would drive Japan to take up the
sword. At one time he talked over the
cally it was M. Whites disapproval of
the far eastern policy and the creation
of a viceroyaity in the far east which
caused his downfall.
During his trip TO Port Arthur in
1899 NJ. Witte was invited by the Jap
anese government to visit Japan. Japan
therefore would probably welcome his
selection to conduct prelminarles in be-
half OF Russia, knowing that they
would be dealing with the Russian
statesman who best understands the
situation and who is most likely to
reach an agreement, mutually advan-
tageous. Last summer, while NJ. Witte
was Chancellor Won Buelow's guest al
Norderney Hanover, he is said to have
seen NJ Kurino, former japanese min
lister at st. Petersburg, and 1t is added
that they both agreed that the wal
should be succeeded not merely by
peace but by an alliance,
Replies VIII Soon Be Published
Russias official reply will be printed
in the official messenger tomorrow OF
Wednesday.
At the foreign office this afternoon
the Associated Press was informed that
Japan's indication of the time and place
for the meeting of the plenipotentiaries
will be expressed within twenty-four OF
forty-elght hours, at the most.
Russia's plenipotentiary continued
the informant OF the Associated Press
will be clothed with full power to re-
celve Japan's terms and give Russia's
answer, which will involve power to