The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-25
NEGOTIATIONS ARE
AT COMPLETE HALT.
Lamsdorff's Illness Interrupts
Efforts for Peace
ARMISTlCE NOT POPULAR
Both Russia and Japan Spar for Any
Advantage That May Be Gained
On the Eastern Battle

Washington, June 24.-Peace negotiations
between Russia and Japan have come to
a dead halt on account of the illness of
Count Lamsdorff, the Russian minister
for~foreign affairs. It is explained off,
cially that nothing in the form of a
hitch has occurred but the negotiations
merely have been suspended temporarily.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador.
had a brief interview with President
Roosevelt today but he had no additional
important advices from his government
to communicate. He called merely to pay
his respects to the President prior TO
the latter's departure next Monday after
noon for the summer. They discussed in
formally the peace situation, the Presi-
dent expressing his earnest hope that
another general engagement on the battle
field of Manchuria might be avoided by
the negotiations for a permanent peace
new pending.
Armstice Does Not Meet Favor.
1t is learned that up to this time,
suggestions for an armistice have not
been received with absolute favor by
either Russia or Japan. Quite naturally
each government is seeking an advantage
over the other in the diplomatic sparring
that is going on now and, among those
in touch with the situation, 1t is regarded
as unlikely that definite arrangements
for an armistice will be concluded-even
IL they should be concluded at all-before
the formal meeting of the plenipotentiar-
les of the two nations.
AS heretofore noted. there is serious
apprehension that unless a temporary
suspension of hostilities be arranged, a
great battle may be precipitated, the re-
suit of which might wreck completely the
pending negotiations.
Negotiations at StandstilI.
1t was expected confidently that an
announcement of the names of the repre-
sentatives of the two powers to the
Washington conference could be made by
the end of this week, but as a matter of
fact, the negotiations have not progressed
in the least since Tuesday. That both
Russia and Japan have decided upon their
representatives at the conference Is quite
certain, but each government, for rea-
sons of its own, declines to make formal
announcement of them.
IT seems scarcely probable at this mo-
ment that President Roosevelt will be in
a position to authorize a further official
statement Ol the VI tiit ptiuiI6
negotiations before he goes to Oyster
Bay for the summer. While both Rus
sia and Japan have indicated that they
may be ready to open the conference
about the first of August, the belief in
well informed quarters Is that now the
conference of the plentipotentiaries Is
likely to be DELAYED and that they may
not get together until the middle or the
latter part of August.
Causes Feeling of Apprehension
In diplomatic circles Russias delay in
announcing her peace penipotentiaries
has aroused a feeling of apprehension.
There is no lack Of confidence ON the
part of the President in Russias sin
cerity but this delay In the preliminary
negotiations, it is realized, may have an
exceedingly bad effect upon public opin-
ion in Iapan. So far as an armistiee Is
concerned these negotiations must neces-
sarily be postponed until the pienipo-
tentiaries have been announced
In view of the fact that the negotia-
tions thus far for the most part have been
directly with the Emperor, Count Lams-
dorfs having been consulted about de-
tails rather than principles, members of
the diplomatic corps are at a loss 10 un-
derstand why the illness of the minister
for foreign affairs should block the selec-
tion of the plenipotentiaries. The Euro
moan ambassadors and ministers at St
petersburg as a result of the feeling Of
anxiety in Washington tonight are being
n1t ON the lookout for developments there
which NAV explain the delay.