The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-06-09
PEACE URGED
BY President
TELLS RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
= THAT CONTINUANCE OF WAR
WILL BE MISTAKE:
Count Cassini, However, Gives Little
encouragement - President Now
Said to Believe Slight Delay Will
Be Favorable to Negotiations.

Be Favorable to Negotiations.
Washington, June 3.-The president
on Friday struck a blow for peace in
the far east. In conference at the.
white house with Count Cassini, the
Russian ambass ador, he expressed the
earnest hope that Russia would forth
with conclude peace with Japan. Pro-
longation of the war, he believes, will
not result in victory for the Russian
arms and can only serve to increase
Japan's demands and render more diff
cult the drafting of treaty of peace
which the car as well as the mikado
can sign His opinion was that it would
be q mistake for Russia to continue the
war. Unless Russia has substantial
hope Of administerin decisive defeat
to; Japan in this war, the president be-
lieveds it would ,inure to- the interests
of the st. Petersburg government to
conclude peace at once. The president
spoke, he said, as the friend of Russia,
no less than of Japan, and in the interest
Of humanity. Until his words have
reached Tsarskoe Selo and have been
communicated to Emperor Nicholas in
the friendly spirit in which they were
uttered, their effect cannot be esti-
mated.
Count Cassini was unable to do more
than to give: the president his own per-
sonal opinions on the situation. The
ambassador was deeply touched by the
sincere cordially of his reception, and
the frank and friendly manner in which
the president spoke. He could not see,
however, that there was anything in the
present situation, unfortunate as 1t un-
doubtedly was for his government,
which necessitated Russia's suing for
peace. If Japan's terms should prove
anything like as severe as they have
been reported, it was the ambassadors
opinion that Russia could advantageous
ly continue the war indefinitely and
eventually win victory on land. That
his government would so decide he did
not wish to pred let, but at last accounts
the emperor was for continuation OF
the war.
Wrong Time to Act.
As regards the outlook for peace,
however, there is reason to believe
that President Roosevelt and Emperor
William of Germany, who have been
more active than anyone else In the
peace propaganda, have concluded that
this is not the psychological moment
for ending of the war. Between the
United States and Germany and GER
tain other governments there have
been informal exchanges as to the ad-
visibility of sim ultaneous and parallel,
II, not concerted. action to alter Rus
sia's firm deter mination to fight on.
President Roosevelt. it is understood,
is favorable to some kind of interna-
tional action to influence Russia to-
ward making peace. The presidents
idea, however, is that the powers
should wait and exercise their inf1u-
once two or three weeks or a month
from now, when the Russian govern
ment will be less disturbed by the de-
struction of }, Rojestvensky's, feet;
when the people will have appreciated
the effect of the blow and when it is
hoped that it will, have been definitely
decided to call the zemsky sober in
Russia, in which all classes will have
an opportunity to voice their ideas OF
what Russia's policy should be.
: Russia Is Pleased. Isl: a..
st. Petersburg, June 5.-President
Roosevelt's tender of his good Offices
TO bring about peace is received with
general favor in the press and by the
public, and a desire that some steps
should be taken towards securing an
honorable peace is increasingly mani
lest. Members Of the diplomatic corps
Sunday expressed their pleasure that
President Roosevelt had taken the
cad in urging Russia to give up the
prosecution of the war, hut they said
hey were apprehensive that the pres
dents efforts would be fruitless.