Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-06-07
President Roosevelt Desires That the
Warning Nations Come to Terms
CASSlM WILL NOT ADMIT NEED
IN a Conference at the White House
the President Declares That Rus
sia's Military Position is Now Hope
less and That Further Fighting Can
Only Serve to Increase Japan's De-
made.

Washington, Specialize President
Friday struck a blow for peace in the
far East. IN a conference at the
White House this afternoon with
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa-
dor, the President expressed the earn
est hope that Russia would forthwith
conclude peace with Japan.
P~rolongation Of the war, he be-
lieves, will not result in victory for
he Russian arms and can only render
more difficult the drafting of a treaty
Of peace which the Car as we'll as
the MikadO can sign. The President
spoke, he said, as the friend of Rus
STA no less than Of Japan, and OF be-
half not cniy of the Washington gov
Nnment, but the interest of humanity.
The President informed the ambas-
sador that in expressing hope for an
early peace he voiced not only his
strong personal sentiments and those
of his government, but he believed
these were held by all Of the powers.
His opinion was that it would be a
mistake for Russia to continue the
war. In addition to the ,uffering en-
tailed by the naval conflict, he did
not believe that Russia has anything
to win n %prolcnging hcstilities.
The President did not enter into de-
tails, but the personal nature of the
conversation and his long acquain-
lance with Count Cassini enabled him
to talk plainly regarding the decisive
character of Japan's victories. What
Japan's probable peace terms would
be, the President was wholly unable
to say, but he did not hesitate to ex-
press the opinion that difficult as these
conditions might prove in the light
of such a victory as that gained in the
Korean Straits, they would increase
in severity with every day that a
state OF war continued. Unless Rus
STA has substantial hope of administer
ing a decisive defeat to Japan in this
war, the President believed it would
inure to the interests of the Peters
burg government to conclude peace at
once.
Having received no word from his
government since the humiliation OF
Roiestvensky's fleet say the brief Of
fetal dispatches telling Of the engage
ment, Count Cassini was unable to do
more than to give the President his
own personal opinions on the situa-
ton. The ambassador was deeply
touched by the sincere cordiality of
his reception and the frank and friend
ly manner in which the President
spoke. He could not see, however,
that there was anything in the pres
ent situation, unfortunate as it I'M
doubtedly was for his government,
which necessitated Russia's suing for
peace. AS to territory, he pointed
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 ambassa-
doris firm opinion that this was not
"the psychological moment in which
to discuss peace with Japan. What
ever might be the ultimate decision
of his government, he took the ground
that Russia could lose nothing by
waiting Or by continuing the wa On
land. There was hope yet OF a VIC
tory for the Russian arms, it was sug-
gested, and in any event Russia had
not yet lost one foot of territory and
that there was no Russian frontier en-
dangered.
The ambassador pointed out that
there was not the slightest official IN
timation from any source as to ia
pans probable peace terms, and that
these demands as stated unoi1iclally
were "altogether impossible" II ia
pans terms should prove anything
like as severe as they have been re-
ported, it was the ambassadors opln-
ion that Russia could advantageously
continue the war Indefinitely, and
eventually win a victory On land.
That his government would so DECIDE
he did not wish to predict, but at last
accounts the Emperor was for a con
tlnuation Of the war.
Count Cassini will transmit an &C
count of the conference to he Car.
Telegraphic Briefs.