The N.Z. Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1905. PEACE PROSPECTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5678, 28 August 1905, Page 4

The N.Z. Times

(PUBLISHED DAILY). MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1905. PEACE PROSPECTS.

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As day after day goes by, the prospects of peace being concluded between Russia and Japan become more remote. It is now reported that President Roosevelt's efforts to bring about an understanding have resulted in utter failure; and though the French newspapers urge Russia to conclude an honourable peace, there are no indications of any such intention on the part of the Czar and his advisers. On the contrary, the St. Petersburg newspapers, which generally are a reflex of the mind of the governing class, are making insulting remarks about the alleged impeouniosity of Japan, and one of them actually proposes that Russia might make peace by undertaking to advance money to her enemy, on condition that she was allowed to occupy Tsushima until repayment was mads. This is probably no more than a clumsy taunt at Japan for insisting on the payment of a war indemnity; but it can only have the effect of intensifying the strong feeling already prevailing at Tokio, and impelling the Japanese to impose more exacting conditions. Apparently, therefore, the negotiation* now proceeding will come to naught, and the war, with all its concomitants of waste, suffering, and disturbance of the world's industry and commerce, will drag on until one or other of the combatants is exhausted. The determination of the Czar’s Councillors of State not to submit to terms that imply humiliation is based partly upon national pride and partly upon a conviction that the maintenance of Russia’s martial prestige is necessary to the unity of the Empire and to the continuance of the autocratic or bureaucratic regime. Considerable light was throwui on the working of the official Russian mind by a supposititious discussion on the war between an optimist and a pessimist, which was published in the “Moscow Gazette” a few months ago. The optimist referred to the rumour of peace as “ unfortunate”; held that the war must not be “finished with dishonour”; argued that to outrage the national pride and injure the national prestige by concluding peace would mean “ the dismemberment of Russia,- the separation of Finland, Poland, and the Caucasus.” Peace, which would mean the beginning of these events, seemed to him “ a dishonour, a horror, and a treachery.” Reminded by the pessimist of the Russian losses, of the terrible expense of the w’ar and the possibility of the Baltic fleet being beaten and of Vladivostook being taken by the enemy, :Ii 3 optimist scouted»tho idea, declared that the Japanese were short of both men and money, and that Russia could beat them by a wearing process. As for the alleged unpopularity of the war and the dangers of rioting and resistance if further mobilisation took place, his declaration was that the -bulk of tho ,people would eagerly volunteer help to carry on the war, if the nature of the conflict were clearly explained to them, and that with self-confidence and fiimness the defeat of Japan was certain. It is with fictions of this kind that tile rulers of Russia deceive themselves and attempt to delude the people. All the world knows that Japan’s financial position is good, and that the latest Russian war loan has proved a' failure; that the Czar’s dominions are honeycombed with disaffection and lawlessness, and that masses of the people are on the verge of starvation. To talk of the war being popular, under such circumstances, is the veriest folly. As regards the Russian soldiers in the field, there is reason to believe that they are hardly more patriotic or in better heart for fighting than were the crews of tho Baltic fleet. Mr Maurice Baring, in his recently published book, “ With the Russians in Manchuria,” describes his experiences and observations during last year. ■ “ The great mass of the soldiers,” he writes, “ have no interest in the war, and no sort of idea what it is about. They think that Manchuria is a country unfit for white men, and they have only one desire, and that is to go home. They fight because they have been told to do so for the Emperor. ‘lt is inconceivable to them • that Manchuria should be the object of the fighting, as they do not think a sane man would waste a thought, still less the life of a Cossack, on such a country.” Their constant pathetic complaint is that they want, to go home to their wives and children, and in the meantime the continual habit of retreating imposed by the strategy of headquarters has inevitably damped their zeal and spirit.” It may be true that the loss of prestige resulting from Russia’s relinquishment of the struggle just now would mean the downfall of the existing system of Government, and perhaps the dismemberment of the Empire; hut is it quite clear that the same results will not follow upon a continuance of the war, independently altogether of which side ultimately wins? The people of Russian are becoming enlightened, and are not to be duped by lying reports, or insulting “bluff.” In the words of M. Victor Berard, the French author of “Tho Russian Empire and Ozarism” — “At each successive reverse of the Imperial arms a little of tho fervour of popular devotion fails, a ray falls from the devine aureole of autocracy. Wars, bring to tho light of day tho dishonesty and uselessness of bureaucratic tyranny. They ;u.- so many blow's to Czaiism. The hatred of the corrupting “tohin” and degrading autocracy has come to a head. Who shall tell Nicholas 11. that he who hesitates is lost? For in these cases it is not the heads of the people that fall.” In tie interests of the world and humanity, it is to bo hoped that peace will icon ho concluded. So far as Russia is concerned, it would seem that the reign of oppression is near its close, no matter what may be the outcome of the peace negotiations.