The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-07

Washington, March Silt is Stateo
here that Japan has received an urgent
warning from a neutral power to be-
ware of all offers Of mediation from
any government and to insist upon di
rect negotiations with St. Petersburg.
Paris. March 3.-A,l the official in
formation relative to peace is of a ne
gotiative nature. At the same time the
official view is now strongly optimistic
that peace is not far distant. This
view is not due to exact information,
but is the result of a settled conviction
that peace is the only logical outcome
of Russias present predicament. How
ever, the foreign office refuses to cred
it the various reports that France is
taking hand in negotiations or pre-
lmiEaries, and specifically denies the
report from a northern capital that
Russia has asked Foreign Minister Del
CaSse to act as intermediary.
! Another report prominently displayed
in the Echo de Paris today says the
United States is about to make
coup de theatne by initiating peace"
This likewise is not credited in high
quarters as letters just received from
| Ambassador Mccormick say Russia has
nod made any advances through him.
Moreover, Mr.. McCormick's departure
! from st. Petersburg, decided tonight, is
regarded in diplomatic quarters here
/
nence of the United States playing a
| decisive role.
No Move by the United States.
on the contrary, the general view is
that japanese official opinion is pessi-
| mistic concerning peace being realized.
This indicates that the prelimnaries
have not made appreciate progress or
| else that Japan does not intend to in
terrupt her successful campaign. 1t is
even intimated in high quarters that it
makes no difference what st. Peters
burg decides relative to asking for
peace, as it will remain for Toxic to
accept or reject it. Therefore, it is
maintained that the peace situation has
shifted from st. Petersburg to Toxic
which now possesses the key to the
| peace question.
Although officia! information is lack
ing, it is asserted in we'll Informed
quarters that Japan has permitted Rus
STA to learn that the peace conditions
will be severely rigorous and will not
be responsive to the recent sentimental
plea to Japan's magnanimity. In par
ticular, it is said Japan's indemnity
figure is SS00,G 900, and that this stu
| pendOuS sum has proved so staggering
to Russian diplomacy that it is the
chief cause why the peace preliminaries
do not advance to a decisive stage.
Attitude of Russia.
ST. Petersburg, March 31.-Russia' S
attitude was described today by a
prominent diplomat rs follows:
The government is now for peace,
but continues to prepare for war The
whole situation with reference to the
prosecution of the war is being care
fully considered from every viewpoint
py a commission sitting under the pres
idency of Grand Duke Nicholas Nichol-
aievitch. Every phase of the situation,
military, naval, financial, transporta-
tion. Siberian and diplomatic, is being
covered. The commissions report is
expected to be completed in ten days
for admission to the emperor"
The Associated Press is in position
to announce that steps in the direction
of peace have actually been taken.
Russia has directly made known to
Japan the negative conditions upon
which peace may be concluded, namely
no cession of territory and no indem-
nifty leaving Japan to determine
whether negotiations can be begun up
on that basis. No reply from Japan
has yet reached the Russian govern
ment
The above represents practically all
the facts obtainable. Through what
channel or channels Russia has indi-
rectly communicated with Japan the
Associated Press is not in position tc
state definitely, although there is rea-
son to believe it was through the
United States. 1t is practically certain
that France and possibly Great Britain
as the two allies Of the bellgerents
and the United States as the country
acting for Japan, have been appriset
of Russia's position.
Japan in No Hurry.
Last nights rumors that Rcosevel1
had rendered his good offices to botf
parties are incorrect The president.
friendly disposition and perfect willing
ness to undertake TO open negotiations
however, is well understood here, ant
without asking directly that they b,
communicated to Japan. Russia coulc
make known to Roosevelt through Am
baSsadOr Cassini the conditions tt
Which she could agree, while thus Civ
ing Japan the opportunity of knowing
officially what the basis Of peace nego
tiations must be.
FLEET is NOT SO EASY.