New-York tribune., 1905-02-24
PEACE TALK DISCREDlTED
ABSURD, SAYS CASSINI.
Washington Officials Knozc Nothing
of Efforts to End Var.
40 1hA Ansnciated Press.l

Washington, Feb. 23-At the White House and
the State Department at the Russian. trench
German British and Italian embassies and the
Japanese Legation to-day, where inquiries were
made regarding the rumors of peace between
Russia and Japan, the most positive statements
were made that If either of the belligerents was
thinking of proposing peace 1t was secret Sc
curely locked in the Foreign Office at st. Pc
tersburg or at Toxic The President has heard
absolutely nothing of an ayowed intention on
the part of Russia or Japan to sue for peace at
this time much less of an actual proposal. Sec
retary Hay to-day assured three Ambassadors
that, while this government continued hopefui
for peace and watehful of the opportunity TO be
of assistance whenever it might be asked by the
belligerents, there were no indications mere that
the time for peace was near.
Sir Mortimer Durand, the British Ambassador,
is the personal friend of Lord Lansdowne, and
is in close touch, therefore. with the British
Foreign ONCE. The Ambassador had long
talk with Secretary Hay, calling at the state
Department soon after his return from Phila-
deIphia He does not place the slightest con-
fdence in the runlers of peace. He said he ala
not believe that japan had asked anybody to
propose peace and the London government had
not made inquiries here concerning the reports.
Baron Won Sternburg, the German Ambassa-
dor, has heard nothing from his Foreign ohiee
on the subject and neither he the President
in their conversation yesterday could nna
favorable sign OF peace at this time 1t can be
said on the best authority that the PRESIDENT
Emperor William and King Edward will scrupu-
lously avoid intervening until it is certain that
their services are desired by the belligerents
Baron Mayor des Planches, the Italian Am
basador, read with much interest the dispatch
from Berlin telling OF the Russian Emperofs
decision to continue the 1t conceded pre-
y1I-ifh tba has
Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador, said
that talk of peace was never more absurd than
now. He has had positive information from
the highest officials in St. Petersburg that the
war will be prosecuted with increasing vigor
it is expected that General Kuropatkin. with
the opening of the spring campaign, will ac-
complish much, in view of the reinforcements
he has received. The Emperor has every con-
fdence in his military ability.
The peace talk can have but one object,
said Ambassador Cassini. "the assistance of
Japanese loan. 1t is about time for Japan to
raise another loan, and these fumors of peace
generally begin at such time. I can reiterate
in the light of recent advces 1 have received
in the most emphatic manner that the in
the Far East will end when Russia is vlctori-
Gus, and not moment before. The recent
disturbances in Russia, while annoying. cannot
in the slightest degree affect the governments
foreign policy. The war Will go TO the end.
as have been saying ever since it began The
talk of peace is ridiculous. viii be proved
by the activities Of General Kuropatkin when
the spring campaign opens in earnest"
Equally positive statements are made at the
japanese Legation. 1t is declared that Japan.
while, of course, ready for peace on her own
terms, she has been since the war began,
sees no outlook for cessation OF hostlities yet,
and is preparing to follow up the victories of
last fall with even more decisive battles in the
spring, now that the fall of Port Arthur has
released the beseging army there, and it is
available for operations in the North.
Sir Chentung Liang Cheng, the Chinese Minis
ter, another diplomat who called at the
State Department, but could hear nothing of
peace.