The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-23
PEACE PARTY
 ENCOURAGED Probable That Car May Make Advances. CONSIDERING CAREFULLY Germany Supporting French
 Influence. Nicholas's Government win Not Be AbJeet, But Might Be Willing to Oner Certain Liberal Prop
 OsitiOns.

St. Petersburg, March 23.--I2:33 a. m.)--The party in the government which is urging the Emperor to indi- cate to Japan Russia's willingness to end the war If reasonable basis can be reached, as related in these dis patches on March 20, has been greatly encouraged the last few days and an actual pacific proposal may be just ahead.
 The subject has occupied much of the attention of the conferences at Tsar- skoe-Selo. Certain grand dukes, sup ported by General Sakharoff, the Min ister of War, Admiral Avellan, the head of the admiralty, and what is known as the war party, are still bit- terly opposed to the idea of peace un- der present circumstances, but with the exception of the Ministers of War and Marine the Emperor's ministers, back ed by M. witte, solidly favor this they offer are telling.
 French influences in the same direc- ton are now being supported by Ger man opinion. The rumor noted by the Associated Press last week that Elm peror William had rendered his good offices now seems to be confirmed.
 Approach Through France.
 The Associated Press is in a posi- tion to assert, however. that if Emper- or Nicholas decides to approach Ja- pan, it will be through France and that negotiations will pc conducted either between M. Delcasse, the French For al a Japanese Minister at Paris, or M. Har- mand the French Minister to Japan, and Count Katsura, the Japanese Pre- mier at Tokio.
 The Russian government now feels certain that Japan will not make the first move, nor disclose her position until overtures are made authorita- lively in the Russian Emperor's name, on the ground that he alone Is capa- ble of binding Russia. It is quite possible that Japan's attitude in this regard has been exposed through un- official attempts to ascertain terms. Ja- pan, 1t will be remembered, took the same position when Herr Detring, the German Commissioner of Customs at Tientsin, without plenary powers, sought to obtain Japan's terms for ehdirg the Chino-Japanese war, de- clining to treat until Li Hung Chang, accompanied by General John W. Eos ter, went to Tokio clothed with full powers.
 Furthermore, in view of the possi- bility that no basis of agreement might result even should the Emperor now approach Japan with pacific proposals, it is regarded as entirely likely that hostilities would continue, again fol- lowing the pecedent of the Chino-Jap- anese war, until negotiations ended. no Chino n begun in December and peace was con- cluded in the following April. Mean while the Japanese made winter campaign in Manchuria.
 Firm on Two Points.
 In the conference concerning the question whether Russia should now in- dicate her willingness for peace, all agreed, firstly, that preparations to con- tinue the war shall not be relaxed, and to reject humiliating terms. This would probably be two points on which Russia would be found impIacable, namely. cession of territory and indem- nifty, to neither of which, it Is said, would Emperor Nicholas ever agree
 It Is pointed out, however, that if Japan seriously desires enduring peace on collateral questions, Russia might be ready to offer liberal compensatory considerations. For instance, in lieu of direct indemnity, she might turn over to Japan the proceeds of the sale of all the rights and property of Port Arthur and Dalny and the Chinese eastern railroads, and literally pay for the maintenance of Russian prisoners in Japan, and while refusing to cede Saghalien might grant rights to the fisheries there, or even relinquish all the valuable seal fisheries on the Com mander Islands.
 It Is possible also that satisfactory arrangements might be made regard ing Russian naval strength in eastern waters for period of years.