Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-06
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA
TALK IN LONDON OF A PEACE UNI
OUTSTANDING.

LONDON, October e.-Following closely
upon the publication of the text of the
Anglo-Japanese treaty has come consider
| able talk of the possibility of an under
standing between Great Britain and Rus
STA. All the newspapers are devoting coll
umns to the discussion of the question,
pointing out that If Russia is sincere In her
expressions of a desire for peace In Central
| Asia there is no reason why the two an
! cient enemies should not come to an agree
ment that will not only assure peace but
clear away the suspicious leading to fric-
| ton which have existed for years. That
negotiations with this object in view are
pending seems possible. through definite of
| fcial confirmation is lacking. Color is lent
| to the rumors that have been floating
about by the recent frequent visits paid to
| the foreign office by the Russian ambassa-
dor since his return from his holiday a
| fortnight ago, and the fact that Foreign
Secretary Lansdowne, who returned from
his vacation to publish the text of the An
glo-Japanese treaty, remained at his office
continually since then.
Long Interviews Reported.
Count Benkendorff. the Russian ambassa-
dor, had long interview with Lord Lans-
downe at the foreign office yesterday, and
the latter left London Immediately after
ward for Balmoral, Scotland, where Pre-
| mier Balfour is present as minister-in-at-
| tendance to King Edward.
OF course, the visits Of the Russian am
bassador to the foreign Office may have
been connected with Emperor Nicholas
invitation to Great Britain to participate In
the second peace conference at The Hague
but Great Britain had already answered
his majesty's preliminary invitation. It is
thought here that the present Is an oppor-
tune moment for reaching a better under
standing between the two countries, both
the British and Russian papers having
strongly advocated 1t for the past week
The position Of the British government
was clearly stated in a speech delivered by
Gerald Balfour, president of the local gov
eminent board, yesterday, in which he
said:
Great Bitain's Attitude.
"Great Britain has no intention of max
ing aggressive movements In Central Asia.
Our object is defense and not defiance and
If the Russian government desires to come
to an understanding with US with refer
ence to our respective interests In that part
Of the world it will not find the British gov
eminent backward in readiness to consider
any proposals which it might desire to put
forward
The newspaper discussion has reached a
much wider range and includes suggestions
for agreements which If carried out and
lived up to would make Europe family In
"ASii liicic "oulu Ue no OlH6TenCeS. one
of the suggestions which most appeals to
British officialdom and the London press is
that Russia, Germany and France should
subscribe to the terms of the Anglo Japa-
nese treaty.
For Peace in Asia.
1t is pointed out that if they are sincere
in their protestations of desire for peace
in Asia there is no reason why they should
not subscribe to a treaty which has this
object in view.
The suggestion that Great Britain should
more fully recognize Russias position in
southern Turkey has not been given much
consideration in London, though possibly
this may be one of the points which the
agreement, If reached, will be based, and
1t may be return for Russian guarantees
of her often repeated assertion that she
does not desire to advance any further to-
ward the India frontier.
The public Ia Great Britain would well
come an understanding which would put
an end to the frequent periods of unrest and
consequent unfriendly relations with Russia