CABLE NEWS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT,]

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 5

CABLE NEW S. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT,]

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. JAPAN'S CONDITIONS TRANSMITTED TO RUSSIA. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. [PHESS ASSOCIATION.] WASHINGTON, 11th August. At a meeting on board the Mayflower at Portsmouth (New Hampshire) tho peace plenipotentiaries agreed to make all formal communications in writing. Baron Komura then handed M. de Witte Japan's conditipns, and the Conference adjourned, to enable the Russians to prepare their reply. M. de Witte has transmitted the conditions in cypher to St. Petersburg, adding his own comments on the -terms, and his views concerning the best course of action to take. Tho main features of the Japanese terms are the cession of Saghalien and the reimbursement of the expenses of the war. No sum ia named, and the word "reimbursement" is used throughout instead of "indemnity." M. DE WITTE'S VIEWS. • Speaking at St. Petersburg on the 17th July to a press representative M. de Witto discussed the question of peace. He said : — "I have received express instructions from His Majesty and shall follow them. The ultimate decision remains in the hands of the Emperor, and it is for him to decide the destinies of Russia. The Emperor is the friend of peace and desires peace, but I veiy much fear that the Japanese terms will be such that we will be unable to reach an accord. "Secondly, the world should disabuse its mind of the idea that Rus&ia wants peace at any price. There are two parties in Russia. One of them favours the continuance of the war a outrance. This is a large and influential party. The other, to which I belong, favouis peace. I avow it frankly, because telling the truth has always been my rule in polities. It was before the war began. Even though there are those two parties, both would be united if the Japanese demands wounded ,the amour propre of the Russian people or jeopardised our future as a nation. lam sure if I report that the conditions of Japan cannot be accepted Russia will accept the verdict, and the Russian people will be ready to continue the war for years if necessary. "Thirdly, Russia is not crushed, as the foreign pres3 has led the world, to believe. The interior situation is very serious, I do not deny, but in Europe and America the true significance of what is happening is not understood. Correspondents come here and talk with a. few people in St. Petersburg and Moscow, misinterpret what is happening, and fill the world with false impressions as to Russia's future. "Russia is not on the verge of dissolution as a great Power and is not obliged to accept .any conditions offered, in spite of the military reverses she has sustained. We are passing through an internal crisis, which has been marked by many grave events, and which may have others still in store; but the crisis will pa&s, and in a few years Russia will again take her place as a preponderant Power in the European court." A SKETCH OF BARON KOMURA. The following interesting sketch has been written for the London Telegraph by one who knows Baron Komura intimately. The Baron was born of the Samurai class, in the province of Huiga, in Southern Kishiu. In early boyhood he showed almost precocious talents, and consequently was selected from his classmen to study at the newly-established University at Tokio. When the Tokugawa Shogunite was overthrown he was one of the clever young men who came to the metropolis to enjoy the newlyintroduced system of Western knowledge. Before graduating he was sent with several other brilliant contemporaries to the United^Rlalcs to study law. On returning to Japan Mr. Komura did not come before the public for several years. He filled subordinate posts in tbe Department of Justice, and that of Foreign Affairs, where he was chief ol the translation bureau. When, however, he was appointed Secretary to the Pekin Legation, under Baron Otori, he distinguished himself in the diplomatic negotiations prior to tho Oliino- Japanese war in 1897. During the campaign he followed the Japanese army in the capacity of Civil Administrator, and displayed exceptional ability in soothing the conquered territory. Afterwards he was Minister at Seoul, and then went as Minister to Pekin, and at the conference .of the Powers subsequent to tke Boxer troubles he earned tho esteem of his international colleagues. Under Count Okuma he was for a brief period Vice-Foreign Minister, and afterwards Minister successively at St.' Petersburg and Washington. Under his direction, when Foreign Minister in the present Cabinet, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was matured, and for his part in the work ho was created a Baron. In stature Baron Komura is smaller than the average Japanese, and has a long, thoughtful face. Those who come into contact with him aro surprised at his ready resouice and eloquent argument. He whites and sneaks English fluently, but is a great "believer in silence as the secret) of diplomatic success. Baron Komura if on the youthful side of fifty.

The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Witness thinks that the way in which cattlo are sometimes treated by incompetent drivers in the country might well engage the attention of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "To-day," he writes, "I mot a fool with nboufc fifty heifois in grand condition, driving them along with dogs and whip, the cattle with their tongues hanging out und frothing at the mouth in great distress. One poor unfortunate whs just about done, and upon iB the driver was showing oft' his agility with the whip. This evening, when I reached the same fond, about five miles further on, I found v heifer on the side of the load, mad. She chained me, but. -was so done up that she fell down, and a friend who (.'iime nlnng tho rond tel'.s me there is one dead. I have every reason to believe that these two animals were out of the mob that ' T saw being driven along in the morning. This is, perhaps, an extreme case of overdriving — at least it is to bo hoped so for the credit of the country. Later on in the day I saw another mob of forty "cows, the owner of which was driving thorn himself. They were quietly strolling along, and they had then come over twelve miles, and were fit for a good many miles more. But a!l owners," ho adds, "are not careful drivers, especially if they are driving them into' the Bftleyiu'djj,"'