The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-22
RUSSIAN PIfNlPOTENTIlRY SUB.
mrs 10 INTERVIEW.
Says He Is Simply an Ambassador
Of the Gar. with whom the
rinaI Decision as to Peace Lies.
Has Instructions which He viii
Endeav0r to Carry Out.

the Russian plenipotentiary, received
the correspondents of the Associated
Press at his villa on Yelligan island.
yesterday afternoon. He said he wish
ed it expressly stated that he had de-
clined all previous requests Of journal
lists for interviews and would decline
all future requests.
He further said that he made an ex-
ception in the case Of the Associated
Press, as it was the representative of
the Press Of the United States, as he
is about to become the temporary guest
Of the United States, and also as mark
Of the particular sympathy he felt to.
ward that great country.
M. Witte spoke in French. After
greetings, which were cordial. the con-
versation gravitated quickly to the high
mission with which the Russian states
man. is charged and the disposition Of
the foreign press to interpret his ap-
pointment as an indication that Russia
has decided to make peace at any price.
Emperor to Decide.
mo, no." he said, Strengthening up
in his chair and speaking slowly and
distinctly, as if weighing the value of
each word, Gin the first place I have
been designated by the emperor as his
ambassador extraordinary for pour par
lers with the japanese plenipotentiar-
les, to ascertain whether it is possible
to conclude q treaty Of peace. My per-
sonal views are of secondary import
ance, but my ideas are in entire accord
with those of my friend, Count Lams-
dorff.
I'm serving my emperor, I have re-
majesty and shall follow them.
"The ultimate decision remains in
the hands of the emperor, and it is Tor
him to decide the destinies of Russia.
The emperor is the friend of peace and
desires peace, but I very much fear
that the Japanese demands will be such
that we shall be unable to reach an
accord.
Continue War It Necessary.
Secondly, the world should disa-
buse its mind Of the idea that Russia
wants peace at any price. There are
two parties in Russia. One of them
favors the continuance of the war
outrance-that is, large and influen-
tial party. The other, to which I
belong, favors peace. I avow it frank
~, because telling the truth has always
been my rule in politics. I was for
peace before the hostilities broke out.
When the war began the situation
changed.
Gwen though there are those two
parties both would be united if the
japanese demands wounded the amour
propre Of the Russian people or jeopar-
died our future as nation.
81 am sure, il the peace conditions
Of Japan cannot be accepted, Russia
will accept the interdict and the Rus
sian people will be ready to continue
the war for years if necessary.
''Russta Is Not Crushed"
Thirdly, Russia is not crushed, as
the foreign press has led the world to
believe. The interior situation is very
serious. That do not deny, but in
Europe and America the true signifi-
canoe of what is happening is not I'M
derstood. Correspondents come here
and talk with few people in st. Pc
tersburg and Moscow, misinterpret
what is happening and fill the world
with false impressions as to Russia's
future.
Russia has little resemblance to
Western countries. To know Russia,
to understand the soul of the Russian
people, it is necessary to have been
born here or lived many years in Rus
STA. The customs and history of the
people are entirely different from those
of Western nations, and Russia cannot
be judged by Western standards.
1T is such an immense country,
composed Of diverse elements and in
terests, yet the Russian people are like
great family. At present they are
torn by internal dissentions, but these
divisions would disappear should the
people really feel that the integrity Of
the country and it's future destiny were
at stake.
Russia Is not on the verge Of diseo-
luton as great power and is not
obliged to accept any conditions offer
ed, in spite Of the military reverses she
has sustained.
I'VE are passing through an internal
crisis which has been marked by many
grave events, and which may have
others still in store. But this crisis
will pass and in few years Russia
will again take her place a. q prepon-
derant power in the European concert y
TAnQO Tn URAS Ante