New-York tribune., 1905-06-09
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

| penevolent expectancy would seem to De tue
| only true attitude of the world at large to"aio
| .he peace negotiations which ase III plosae''
| The result Of the negotiations cannot pe ioio
| told nor can we have any positive knowledge
| of their precise character or scope. inele 40 -.
| all diplomacy no work more dencate lnSh 'ia' ~
which makes for the ending or a war oe'"eo
| two sovereign powers, anu theie n"o So
| IF eyer been a war in which such WORK WIS
| -,ora deucate than In this. The utmost olscfe-
| +,on and secrecy are therefore necessary. IowA
| n,ea+ino dinlomacy is never commenoapie. Al
| tbe nresent case it would be Ioredooineu "
| fsilrlre so disastrous as TO MAKE oi IL 'i'.,1
| less than q crime. That consluefa'ion eHooiu "
| console tbe nubIic for not being permitted 10
| know what is going on at Washlhstoh anu, IL
| @ less degree at St Petersburg, Iohlo, Aohuoh'
| Rerliu and Paris. All that can properly pe
| rnoypn Is that earnest and respons' lie men
| =, .,,oso osnitsla are seeking q way of restor-
| ing peace upon just anu ho1hoA"ot0 O"'- ~
tween Russia and Japan
II is not unreasonable to assume, however
certain general principles OF actlon as those
which are being followed. one is that lures
or four powers concerned III lIe hesoua-
+iops hesdes the two bellgerents. The bellg-
erants could not at this stage negotiate di-
raotIv nor is it certain that their two aInes
corld do so satisfactorily There seems 10 pe
need of the offceS OF at leatsL oHe ehIiehy -
+aI and impartial nation, such as-it is agreeanie
to observe-the United States is deemed 10 De-
Another assumption is that, as is customary IN
sucb cases the present negotiations are preum-
;narv in character. They are not aiming at
the formulation of a definitive treaty of peace,
but rather at a protocol, which will result IN
an armistice and then the real negotiations 1or
peace third point, probably. is that the nnal
peace negotiations will be conducted directly
betyyeen Russia and Japan, without the inter
vention Of other powers. That was the pro-
ce5ure in 1898 between America and Spain.
end If would seem to be the appropriate one
st this time
What appears to be the present aim, there
fore. generally speaking is to ascertain il there
ia any practicable ground upon which the bel
Iigerents can agree to suspend hoshities ana
To rneet for the discussion Of terms Of peace
If Is to be ascertained first whether both are
really desirous Of peace upon any terms, ana
next If So upon what terms. If 1t appears
that one power is unwilling to make peace
,lpon any terms, insists upon terms when
the other would not be willing to consider even
as a basis of discussion, the war must so on.
Rut if as is earnestly to be hoped, both are
willing to make peace, and each puts its tenta-
tive terms within limits which the other is
willing to consider, then the way is open for
nm armistice and the definite making OF peace
1t is desirable not to eXaggerate the Importance
of the steps already taken. although it may
properly be recognized that they may prove OF
the highest Importance. 1t is supremely deslr-
able that no indiscreton Of any kind shall be
permitted to thwart or even to mar the progress
of negotiations upon which the hopes OF the
world are so largely fixed.