The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-17
INSTRUCTIONS
 ARE NUT KNOWN Nites Orders However Are
 Unusually Explicit EUROPE WANTS WAR ENDED Russia's Preoocupation in the Far East Destroys Present Equilibrium
 Prince oukhtomsky Brings Suit for Libel.

St. Petersburg. July 1G.-M. Witte spent an hour with Mr. Meyer. the American ambassador, at the Kleinmichael palace today discussing the forthcoming peace conference. Before leaving for Paris next Wednesday. M. Witte will have still an- other audience of the Emperor. In the flcial visits to all the imperial ministers. M. Witte is expected to be the bearer of personal message from the Emperor to President Roosevelt
 The Associated Press is authorized by M. Hartwig director of the first depart ment of foreign office, to deny in the most categorical fashion the report of the alleged contents of the instructions to M Witte published in Paris by the Echo de Paris and elsewhere abroad.
 Reports Are Guesswork.
 "Repor# pretending to reveal the in- struc # the Russian plenpotentiaries are Y sa' ss work" said M. Hartwg Thes s.s nc,ions have been seen by only fo IT asons-the Emperor, M. Witte. Fol aY Minister Lamsdorff and myself n lf de Paris report says they consisa ve pages. whereas the fact is tn co er twenty pages. The raper say the instructions are very vague. wh on the contrary they arc very detailed. On one point only. accord- ing to the Echo de Paris, are they ab- solutey specific namely. as to the level- irg of the Qualifications of Vladivostok. but can say to yoi that there are many l others"
 | M Hartwig also pronounced the stories that M. Muravleffs displacement was the result of intrigues by Foreign Minister Lamsdorff to be pure inventions. | The Novosti says it believes that the desire of the anti German coalition which G4eat isgita5n rying 70 engineer to restore Russia as threat against Ger man aggression. shor'ld be powerful diplomatic weapon in the hands of tAe Russian plenipotentiaries.
 Europe Wants War Ended.
 Europe wants to end the war" says the paper, "as Russia's preoccupation in | the far east destroys the present equilibrium. Austria is in danger from Germany, which seeks a thoroughfare to the Adriatic in exchange for compensa- ton in the Balkan peninsula. Germany has pretensons now which she would not | have dreamed of before the Russo Japa- nese war It Is evident from the Morocco incident that Euro.e wants peace in or | der that Russia may safeguard her against German aggression
 Prince Mestchersky, editor or the Grasn- danin, In warmly supporting M. Witte's l appointment. declares him to be the only 1 Russian statesman equal 10 the task set him. . ,... The reports are printed that M. Put kovsky, formerly Russian fnanelal agent at New York. will be added't to the com mission or will replace as one or the coun- | sellors 10 the plenipotentiarles M. Shipon. director of the Russian treasury depart | ment but these reports cannot be con- l frmed tonight.
 1 Count Ignatieff, instead of Prince sva- 1 topolk- -Mirsky. will succeed M. Boulgin as minister of the interior according 10 the | Slovo.
 Prince Brings Suit
 | Prince Oukhtomsky. editor or the St. | Petersburg Viedmostl, has brought suit 1 against the Novoe Vremya and M. Skaal- l kovslxv for islander. M. sKaafkovsky in | the Noyoe Vremya has not been sparing | in his attacks on M. Muravieff. and on July Ii. as told in these dispatches, Prince | Oukhtomsky took M. Skaalkowsky per- | sonally to task in the Viedmosti. where upon the former writer assailed tho | recalling Victor Hugo's observation that | .'while every man has right to be | fool he should not abuse the right. Prince Oukhtomsky was also arragned for alleged subsidies which he received | from the government and for his "in- terests in railroad and fantastic Mongoian mines which compelled him out of grati- tude 10 compose servile panegyrics." 1 II was though that these attacks would resut in a duel between the two writers.
 The Bourse Gazette prints q long article attacking the Northeastern Siberian com pany of St. Petersburg. which is presided over by M Contionlivsky. having Admiral Abazea of Yalu fame. among the stock holders. but which the paper says Is really managed hy John Rosin an American. for the benefit of Americans The Bourse Gazette asserts that the company has taken entire possession Of the spacious chukotsky peninsula. where mining priv ileges are denied to Russians. It char aeterlzes the whole affair as warning against the American invasion of Russian territory. which Is connived at by the Yalu scoundrels.