The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-12
Japan's Terms for Ending
war Considered Much
Too Severe.
CARS SIGNIFICANT ACT.
Proposes Toast 10 the Army After
Hearing From Portsmouth.

Makes Trip From Peterhof to Big Army
Post and Has Luncheon with Omcers
Of the Imperial Guard-Russian Pride
More Aroused Than At Any Time During
WARBLER In Ultimate Victory Of
Russian Arms spreads-Czar May
Take Advantage Of This Change.
Special Gable Dsspateh to TIE sun.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. li.-Although
no official announcement has yet been
made it is everywhere accepted as fore
gone conclusion that Russia will reject
the Japanese terms and break OF the
negotiations. Az for the terms them
selves. there is only one opinion, and that
is that they are severe and drastic beyond
the point that any self-respecting Power
could accept or consider.
Nobody, indeed, believes that Japan
herself imagines that Russia will accept
! them. Il Is therefore assumed that Japan
consented to the conference in full knowl-
edge Of its futility. The question naturally
asked by Mr.. Witte before his departure
and by all Russia to-day Is why did not
Japan outline the nature of her demands
before going through all the formalities
Of sending ENJOYS to ascertain II an agree
ment were possibles
czAR TURNS TO HIS ARMY.
Mr.. Whites despatch reporting the pro-
poeals was not translated from the code
and placed before the Gar at Peterhof
until nearly midnight. 1t Is not known
how the terms were received by his Ma jesty.
but what he did was most extraordinary.
Ordering a carriage and escorts. he drove
during the darkest hours OF the night to
Krasnoe-Selo, the great military camp;
two hours distant from Peterhof. The
only other occasion on which he has left
Peterhof was to meet the Kaiser.
Tonight the object Of bis sudden visit
to Krasnoe-selo was explained. and It is
abundantly significant. His reply to
Japan's demands Is demonstration OF his
personal allegiance to the army.
He invited all the officers Of the Imperial
Guard to luncheon to-day He sat at the
head Of the table in the barracks, and at
the close Of the meal he proposed silent
toast to the Imperial Guard. Every man
understood the significance Of the act
without word being spoken. They stood
up and drank in impressive silence. This
is the first time since the war began that the
Car has fraternized with his officers.
The Czarina and the Dowager Empress
accompanied the Gar to Krasnoe Selo.
They drove back to Peterhof at 9 O'Clock.
ARoUsINa RUSSIAN PRIDE.
Although she rejects Japan's terms and
the peace conference is apparently doomed
to end in flasco, Russia will gain from it
certain advantages which she deems Of in
estimable value. The first is that ma
tIonal pride ia at last aroused and the country
reconciled to war, II not enthusiastic in its
prosecution.
The remarkable change In all classes OF
orthodox Russian opinion is not difficult
to understand. The war was universally
unpopular and the national pride was not
touched until after the battle Of Mukden.
Peace ought to have been made after the
fall Of Port Arthur, especially in view OF
the Japanese tributes to the valor Of the
Russian resistance, because the country
believed the war was useless and national
prestige was not really affected. The
battle OF Mukden, however, brought stories
of Russian rout and panic, which, followed
by the destruction Of the feet, were re-
parded as a serious national disgrace.
Then Russia began to arouse herself.
Peace talk has diminished steadily from
that day to this. Russian honor was at
stake, and the only question was how to
control the internal agitation while the
empire rose to the task OF indicating It's
military prestige.
Then came President Roosevelt's invi-
ta,ion, and Russia seized 1t as God sent
opportunity. She was confident that
Japan's terms would be severe, and she
knew the country would resent them.
Therefore she sent Mr.. Witte, whose real
task was to win American sympathy.
Discussion OF the Japanese proposals.
a. they become known will solidify the
nation for war az nothing else could have
done. For this Russia thanks President
Roosevelt with genuine gratitude.
Another advantage Of great Importance
that Russia has gained is this: Other
military blows are probably In store for
her. She will lose Vladivostok, and proba-
bly, will again be defeated in Manchuria.
She will then arise to the situation. when
but for the invitation Of President Roose-
welt and the meeting at Portsmouth foreign
mediation would have been offered and
Russia put in an embarrassing position.
This complication Is now eliminated. Rus
Ella now plans to begin her real campaign
to exhaust the enemy.
The Russians themselves admit that no
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