The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-03
Holds Conference With the Russian Ambassador.
HE ARGUES WITH CASSINI
Thinks Now is the Best Time
 for Nicholas.
Effect of the Presidents Talk to the Czar's Representative Yet Prob IematIcaI-No Formal state
 ment Is Given Out.


 today struck a blow for peace In the far east. In a conference at the White House this afternoon with Count Cas- sini. the Russian Ambassador, the President expressed the earnest hope that Russia would forthwith conclude peace with Japan. Prolongation of the war, he believed. will not result Tn victory for the Russian arms and can only serve to increase Japan's demands and render more difficult the drafting of a treaty of peace which the Czar as well as the Mikado can sign.
 The President spoke, he said, as the friend of Russia no less than of Japan and on behalf not only of the Wash ineton government but in the interest of humanity. Until the words have reached Tsarskoe-Selo and have been communicated to Emperor Nicholas III the friendly spirit in which they were uttered, their effect cannot be esti- mated.
 Soon after reaching his embassy Count Cassini began the preparation of a despatch to his government. Nelth- CT at the White House nor at the Rus sian embassy could a formal state ment regarding the conference be ob- tained. Throughout the diplomatic corps there is a strong hope that to- days conference marked the first ster toward peace but the general opinion is that weeks may elapse before even preliminary negotiations can be begun Diplomats expressed the hope that Elm peror Nicholas will receive the Presi- dents words '"as the counsel of that government which has for years been Russia's traditional friend and will weigh 1t accordingly.
 Lopx Conference.
 Unaccompanied. Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador, called Dy ap- pointment at the White House this af- ternoon at 2:30 o'clock. He was ush- cred at once into the blue room where he was joined immediately by the President and conference followed lasting until after 8 o'clock.
 Appreciating the natural feeling oi the ambassador oIi such an occasion fha President began Lhe conversation by a frank. personal expression Si sympathy for Count Cassini, aIlcdfns 10 the severe strain under which ne has been for the past few days ana de- ploring the terrible loss of life and the conseouent sorrow caused by the re- cent battle.
 without further prelimtnarles general and entirely informal and per sonal conversation upon the whole sit- nation followed. The President In formed the Ambassador that he earn estly hoped for an early peace in the Far East and that In expressing this hope he voiced not only his strong per sonal sentiments and those of his gov ernnoent. but he believed that they were held by all of the powers. His onjnjon was that it would be a mistake for Russia to continue the war. Tn addition to the suffering entailed oy the naval conflict he did not believe that Russia has anything to win in prolonging hostilities The President did not enter into details but the per sonal character of the conversation and his long acquaintance with Count Cassini enabled him to speak plainly regarding the decisive character of the victories.
 Best Time the Present.
 What Japans probable peace terms would be the President was wholly unable to say, but he did not hesitate to express the opinion that difficult as these conditions might prove in the light of such victory as that gained in +he Korean Straits they would in- crease in severity with every day that a state of war continued. Unless Russia has substantial hope of admin tstering a decisive defeat to Japan in this war the President believed 1t would inure to the interests of the St. Petersburg government to conclude peace at once.
 Briefly and in a paraphrased form these were the arguments used hy the President in support of his conviction that as between a continuation of the war and immediate peace, the latter would be greatly to Russia's advan- tage.
 Having received no word from his government since the annihilation of Roiestvensky's fleet save the brief dis matches telling of the engagement, Count Cassini was unable to do more than to give the President his own personal opinions on the situation. The Ambassador was deeply touched bv the sincere cordiality of his recep- tion and the frank and friendly man. ner in which the President spoke. He could not see, however. that there was anything in the present situation, un- fortunate as it undoubtedly is, for his government. which necessitated Rus sIa's suing for peace. As to territory he noInted out that China and not Russia had been the loser. for even Port Arthur was held only under lease. On the sea Russia had nothing more to lose, he said.
 1t was the Ambassadors firm opin- ion that this was not "the psychologi- cal moment" in which to discuss peace with Japan. Whatever might be the ultimate decision of his government he took the ground that Russia could lose nothing either by waiting or by con tinuing the war on land. There was hope yet for victory of the Russian arms and in any event Russia had not vet lost one foot of territory nor was the Russian frontier endangered.
 Demands Impossible.
 The Ambassador pointed out there was not the slightest official intima- fion from any source as to Japan's nrobabIe terms and that these de- mands as stated unofficially, were al fopether impossible" If Japan's terms should prove anything ike as severe as they have been reported. 1t was the Ambassadors opinion that Russia could advantageously continue the war indefinitely and eventually win a victory on land. That his govern ment would so decide he did not wish to predict, but at last accounts the Emperor was for a continuation of the war
 Thus the conversation continued for more than half an hour. being charac- terized throughout by frankness and Later on when the Am- bassador has heard from his govern ment after communicating the Presi- dents views and the Presidents will.