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Show LOSS OF PRESTIGE ADDS BITTERNESS TO WAR PARIS, Aprll 16. The Russian naval disaster displaces all other topics. The view is held In Government quarters that It will have the effect of postponing peace. A leading official said today; "This Is a further blow to. Russia's prestige, and every such blow will add to the length-and bitterness of the war. If Russia ultimate' wins, as we believe she will, the loss of the Petropavlovsk will be one of the largest Items of the war Indemnity which Japan will have to pay." The afTlcial added that the gradual wiping out of the Russian navy might have the beneficial effect of reducing the European naval armaments, which arc now Adjusted with referenco to each other. Ho pointed out that the British naval plan contemplated a strength equal to the navies of France, Germany and Russia, whereas the present gradual gradu-al elimination of the Russian navy would permit Great Britain and other countries to reduce their naval programme pro-gramme without altering- their relative strength. The prospect of an Anglo-Russian accord ac-cord Is receiving serious attention In ofllclal and diplomatic circles, the trend of sentiment being that It will eventuate eventu-ate in an Anglo-French-Russian agreement. agree-ment. However, the view of the highest French' ofllcials is that this agreement is now Imminent, but is likely to be realized rea-lized after the close of the Russo-Japanese war. Tho officials eay that certainly cer-tainly there will be no consummation of the accord' as long as tho war lasts. The effect of the Anglo-Russian accord ac-cord on the United States is being discussed dis-cussed in diplomatic quarters. One of the Embassadors remarked that Great. Britain would gain from Russia all the United States had lost through recent misunderstandings. |