Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-07-20
WITT DOESN'T
EXPECT PEACE
Russian PIenipot0ntiary Believes ia
pans Terms Will Be Too
Severe.
ULTIMATE DECISION WITH EMPEROR
Nicholas Will Decide DestinieS OF His
CountrY-RuSsia Doesn't Want
Peace at ANY Price.

St. Petersburg, July I'm. Witte,
the senior Russian plenipotentia1y, re-
ceived the correspondent of the Asso-
cisted Press at his villa on Yelagin Is
land today.
M. Witte spoke in French. After
greetings, which were cordial, the con-
yersation gravitated quickly to the high
mission with which the Russian states
man is charged and the disposition OF
the foreign press to interpret his ap-
pointment as an indication that Russia
had decided to make peace at any old
price
''No, no." said he, Strengthening up
in his chair and speaking slowly and
;Ss::ss::iinc as if weighing the value OF
each word. In the first place, have
been designated by the emperor as ms
ambassador extraordinary for pour
pparlers with the Japanese plenipoten-
tiaries to ascertain whether it is possl-
BILE to conclude treaty of peace. MY
personal views are of secondary impor-
tance. but my ideas are in entire ac-
cord with those of my friend, Count
Lamsdorff.
'In serving my emperor, l have re"
ceived precise instructions from ms
majesty and shall follow them.
"The ultimate decision remains IN the
hands of the emperor and it is for him
10 decide the destinies of Russia. The
emperor is a friend of peace and de-
sires peace, but l very much fear that
the japanese terms will be such that
we will be unable to reach an accord.
Secondly the world should disabuse
its mind of the idea that Russia wants
psace at any price. There are two
parties In Russia. One favors the con-
tinuation of the war-this is a large
and influential party. The other, to
which belong, favors peace. | avow
it frankly, because telling the truth has
always been my rule in politics. was
for peace before hostilities broke out.
When war began the situation changed
"Even though there are these two
parties as to the advisability of ending
the war in the present circumstances,
both would be united if the japanese
wounded the amour propre of the Rus
gian people or ieOpsrdiized our future as
hnatien:
II am sure if l report that the con-
ditions of Japan cannot be accepted,
Russia will accept the verdict and the
Russian people will be ready to contiln-
pe the war for years If necessary,
Thirdly; Russia is not crushed, al
the foreign press has led the world to
believe. The interior system is very
serious, do not deny, but in Europe
and America the true significance o.
what is happening is net understood
Correspondents come here and talk with
few hundred people in st. Petersburg
and Moscow, misinterpret what is hap
pening and fill the world with false i'm
pressions as to Russia's future.
Russia is not on the verge of disse.
luton as great power and is not OBJ
Iiged to accept any conditions offered
in spite Of the military reverses she
has sustained.
eve are passing through an interna
crisis, which has been held by many
grave events and which may have
others still in store, but the crisis vii
pass, and in q few years Russia vii
again take her place as q preponder'
ant power in the Europeans concert. .