The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-26
Private Conference in
 North Europe.
AT STOCKHOLM PROBABLY
Japan May Not Care to Pause
 Just Now.
0rientaIs Realize That once in Pos- sessIon of VladivOstok They Will be Enabled to Dictate
 Their own Terms.

Paris, March .25.-Inquiry late last night tends to strongly confirm the statement in last evenings dispatches that approaches toward peace between Russia and Japan have already begun at private conference in a northern European capital. In view of the statement from St. Petersburg that pour parlers were going in Paris, the Associated Press last night called at the Russian Embassy and the Japanese Legation.
 Ambassador Neliegoff stated specific ally that he knew nothing about such negotiations being in progress here, to discuss the general question of peace, authorized the statement that no pour parlers were occurring in Paris. At the Foreign Office 1t was also stated that officials there were not aware of steps toward peace.
 The foregoing statements by Count Neliegoff and Dr. Motono, while not indicating that negotiations are pro- cecding here, do not alter the main statement that peace preliminaries are actually progressing elsewhere. The real explanation Is probably to be found in the Paris dispatch of last evening that a preliminary conference has already been held at a northern capital. There are strong indications that this capital Is Stockholm and that the negotiations will be conducted at Stockholm if the preliminaries prove successful. Copenhagen also is mem toned but it is understood that the point was raised against past or future conferences there that large and in- huential British element is at that cap itai, whose sympathies might be hos tile to Russia
 The person acting for Russia in the preliminary stage of the negotiations is described as "a leading general. {" The person acting for Japan is not dis closed, but he is believed to be one who has heretofore taken no-prominent part in Japanese affairs.
 There is reason to believe that St. |. Perersburg and Tokio are aware of the results of the meeting and that similar information in the possess sion of certain diplomatic circles in Paris. This simultaneous receipt of Identical information in St. Petersburg and Paris probably accounts for St. Petersburg's view that the prelimina- ries actually occurred here.
 Concerning the final result of peace efforts, they seem to hinge less upon the actual terms than upon Japan's s willingness to pause during the sue cessful culmination of her military campaign, as Japan is proceeding on the theory that once in possession of Vladivostok she can dictate her own terms, including indemnity, which Russia thus far has strongly resisted.
 Reports to the effect that General Ma has occupied Mukden and Tie Pass with Chinese troops are unfounded. |. The Japanese have refused to confirm Chinese officials who had been appoint ed to various posts in Southern Man churia The Chinese Governor of Kirin is said to have received letters from Field Marshal Oyama informing him that the Japanese will enter Kurin on April 10 The appointment of Gen eral Kuropatkin to the command of the first army Is proving source of great satisfaction to soldiers and officers.