The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1905. THE PEACE RUMOURS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13714, 3 April 1905, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1905. THE PEACE RUMOURS.

Apparently the rumours of peace negotiations were premature. When the "Times" makes an announcement on unimpeachable authority we expect to find it true, and in face of the very clear denial that is published this morning we are tempted to inquire what basis there may have been for the rumours. The correspondent of the "Times" is not alone in believing that the preliminary steps at least towards peace have been taken. In the ordinary course Russia has no doubt kept France thoroughly advised as to the progress of the war from her point of view, and it is probable that- at some period since the fall of Port Arthur France has inquired specifically whether friendly intervention would bo acceptable. France is the only Power that could make such an inquiry. After the rout at Mukden the possibility of peace was almost certainly discussed between the allies, and we are bound to accept as more than a mere surmise the statement that Franco had been informed of the Russian views on the question of ter-

minatfng the war. It leaked out somehow or other that the Czar would not accept peace at present if it involved either the sacrifice of territory or the payment of an indemnity. There may have been a further inquiry whether the mediation of President Roosevelt would be accepted, hut that inquiry can hardly have come from America directly. There is nothing in the evidence to show that any communications have passed between Tokio and St Petersburg on the subject. The statement of the correspondent of the "Times" that negotiations were already in progress must be regarded in the circumstances as only a more or less intelligent anticipation of events, founded, most probably, on the leakage of communications between Russia and France as allies. If President Roosevelt is really ' preparing for a boar-shooting trip to the mountains, the prospects of an early peace become very meagre, and we are left to the not improbable explanation we have stated. A few days will show if the correspondent of the "Times" has not been expanding too elaborately some vaguely expressed hint picked up in official circles. The position has of course been discussed by the Czar and his advisers, but from the very contradictory reports it is impossible to gather more than that the peace party is growing in strength in the council of the ministers. In spite of the failure of the recent attempt to raise a loan in France, Russia may be well able to carry on financially, and the hopes of an early conclusion of hostilities rest on military rather than economic considerations. The Japanese, as was to be expected, have substantially reduced the speed of their advance, waiting for their supplies 'to , come up and securing the country thoroughly on both ' sides of the railway line. A light column, however, is marching from Sin-min-ting, along the great winter trade route north, and has reached Tan-wa, within, striking distance of Feng-hwa. Another, east of the railway on the trade route to Kirin, is reported to have reached Shanchengti. These are no doubt the flanking parties. The centre is at Mien-hua-kai, about fifty miles north of Tieling. The main Russian army is doubtless well to the north, at Chan-chung. Meanwhile tlie Baltic" fleet is slowly making its way across the Indian Ocean, and on > the whole we shall probably have to wait a few weeks for any very exciting war news. There is still a baro possibility that diplomatic developments will prove more interesting, but it has to be confessed that in this respect this morning's cable messages are distinctly discouraging.