Show says his appointment by no means indicates peace at any price but that decision rests with czar st petersburg july 17 M watte the senior russian peace plenipotentiary was interviewed by correspondent of the associated press at his villa on island today in according the honor of an interview ho said he express desired it elated that he had declined all previous requests of journalists for interviews and would decline all future requests he further said he had made an exception in the case of the associated press as it was the representative of tha i press of the united states and as ho was about to become the temporary guest of the united states and also as a mark of the particular sympathy i toward that great country M watte in french after i greetings which were cordial the con Tra tion gravitated quickly to the ahiga mission with which the russian statesman Is charged and the alos of the foreign press to interpret ahls appointment as an indication that russia had decided to make peace at tany price no no said he up in bis chair and speaking slowly and distinctly as it weighing the value ot each word in the first place I 1 chave been designated by the emperor i as his ambassador extraordinary for i pour carlers with the japanese plen to ascertain whether it is possible to conclude a treaty of peace personal views are of secondary importance but my ideas are in en accord with those of my friend count lamsdorff in serving my emperor I 1 have received instructions from his majesty and ahall follow them the ultimate decision remains in ithe bands of the emperor and it la ator him to decide the destinies of t russia the emperor is the friend of peace but I 1 very much fear that the japanese terms will be euch that we f will be unable to reach an accord secondly the world should dis abut its mind of the idea that rug lela wants peace at any price there are two parties in russia one of thern favors the continuation of war this is a large and influential party the other to which 1 I belong favors peace I 1 avow it ra aldy because telling the truth has always been my rule in politics I 1 was tor peace before hostilities broko out when the war began the situation changed even though there are those two parties both would be united if the japanese demands wounded the amour of the russian people or jeopardized our future as a nation 1 I am sure if I 1 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 f necessary thirdly russia is not crushed aa the foreign press has led the world to believe that the interior sit nation Is very serious I 1 do not deny but in europe end 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 ie happening and fill the world with false impressions as to dussias Rus sias future russia has little resemblance to western countries to know russia r to understand the g of the russian people it is necessary that one should have been born here or lived many years in russia the people are entirely different from those of western S nations and russia cannot be judged by western standards it Is such an immense country composed of diverse b elements and interests yet the rue elan people are like a great family lat present they are torn by internal dissensions but these divisions would disappear should the people really feel the integrity of the country and alts future were at stake russia is not on the verge of dissolution as a great power and is not obliged to accept any conditions offered in spite of tho military reversed re versea has sustained sus tined we are passing through an international crisis which has been marked I 1 by many grave events and which may have others still in store but the crisis will and in a few years russia will again take her place as a derant power in the european courts |