Taranaki Herald. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1905. THE PROSPECTS. OF PEACE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 13927, 4 August 1905, Page 4

Taranaki Herald. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1905. THE PROSPECTS. OF PEACE.

Although it is probable that the New York Herald was drawing upon its imagination , when it stated that M. de \vitte was "afraid the peace, negotiations would end within a week as the Japanese conditions are too intolerable to admit of discussion," it must be confessed that the prospects of a satisfactory conclUvSion to the approaching conference are anything but bright. M. de is too old a statesman to show his hand prematurely,, or to give any indication that Russia is approaching the' 1 conference ■in a mood which wpuld/tnake it a farce. Besides, his personal! . feelings are believed to be on the side of peace on ,terms which are not actually dishonorable to Russia. He realises, as perhaps few Russians do, the hopelessness of the position, and on that • account it 1 is to be supposed ' that' he will approach the Japanese plenipotentiaries with a genuine desire to carry negotia..tions to 1 ' a successful issue. In • tite ' light, however, ' of recent / events, he doubtless despairs in ,his own mind of any good resulting. .There is thq recent) • declaration , by , the Czar that Russia will fight to the last ship and the lar-t man ; there is?the address of the clergy of Orenburg, recommending thej continuance of the war until the enemy is crushed, : and •' the Czar's replythat he would j not j think of ' "the cession of terntorv or the payment of an indemnity ; arid, more important than all perhaps, is the confidence of \ General I, Linevitch that he can retrieve the situation in Manchuria. The !• generalissimo of the Russian ' forces has yet to justify his 1 confidence, v arid as long'^ as it is possible that he may do so it is almost ! hopeless to Russia to ) agree .to accept any terms \of peace which f Japan is likely to demand. The effect of the rude awakening which thet great naval battle of Tsushima; caused in Russia has had time to wear off to some extent, -and there still remains some degree of confidence in the army. Slowly, though surely ,, as it appears from ; the meagre cables which are? permitted to reach the outer world, the Japanese General's < are maturing, their plans, and we 1 may at any moment hear that ' their supreme effort is being made. Upon, the result of the impending general engagement depends, more than upon anything (else, the j issue of peace. Shpuld General 1 linevitch be able to hold his own it ) may be taken for granted that Russia will agree to nothing that Japan may,, propose. Should he, how* ever i experience '• a^ repetition 101 Mukden and have his armies practically destroyed it will then be for Japan to *be sufficiently moderate, in her demands as to make it possible for Russia to agree without too great • a loss of > prestige and self-respect. It may, in any case,: be regarded as certain that peace, is impossible as long as / General Linevitch 'is | able ta stand up. against the Japanese forces. .