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Show PEACE PARTY IN RUSSIA IS MUCH ENCOURAGED ST. PETERSBURG. March 28. 12:33 a. IB. The party' within the , Government which is urging the Emperor to indicate to Japan Russia's willingness to end ths war if a reasonable basis can be reached, as related in these dispatches on March 90, has been greatly encouraged the last few days, and an actual pacific proposal may be Just ahead. The subject has occupied oc-cupied much of the attention of the conference con-ference at Tsarskoe-Selo. Certain Grand Dukes, supported by Gen. Sakharoff. the Minister of War; Admiral Avellan, the head of the Admlraltyand what is known as the War party, are still bitterly opposed to the idea of peace under un-der present circumstances, ut with the exception of the Ministers of War and Marine, the Emperor's Ministers, backed by M. Wltte, solidly favor this course, ana tne' convincing arguments they offer are telling. French influences in the same direction are now being suported by German Ger-man opinion.- The rumor noted by the Assoe'eted Press last week that Emperor William had tendered his good of noes, now seems to be confirmed. The Associated Press is in a position to assert, hawever, that if Emperor Nicholas decides to approach Japan it will be through Francs, and that negotiations will be conducted either between M. Delcasse, the French Foreign Minister, and Dr. Montono, ha Japanese Minister at Paris, or M. Harmand, the French Minister to Japan, and Count K&tsura, the Japanese Premier at Toklo. The Runslan Government now'feels certain cer-tain that Japan will not make the first move nor disclose her position until overtures over-tures are made authoritatively in the Emperor's name, on the ground that he alone is capable of binding Russia. It is quite possible that Japan's attitude in this regard has been exposed through unofficial attempts to ascertain terms. Japan, it will be remembered, .took the same position when Herr Ietring. the German Commissioner of Customs at Tientsin, without plenary powers, sought to obtain Japan's terms tor ending the Chino-Japanese war, declining to treat until LI Hung Chang, accompanied by Gen. John W. Foster, went to Toklo clothed with full powers. Furthermore, in view of the possibility that no basis of agreement might result, even should the Emperor now approach Japan with pacific proposals, it is regarded re-garded as entirely likely that 'hostilities would continue, again following the proceedings pro-ceedings in the Chino-Japan war, until negotiations ended. The Chino-Japanese negotiations were begun In December and peace was concluded in the following April. Meanwhile the Japanese made a winter campaign in Manchuria. In the conferences concerning the question ques-tion whether Russia should not indicate her willingness for peace, all agree, firstly, first-ly, that preparations to continue the war. shall not be relaxed and, secondly, to reject re-ject humiliating terms. There would probably be two points on which Russia would be found implacable, namely, cession ces-sion of territory and Indemnity, to neither neith-er of which, it is said, would Emperor Nicholas ever agree. It is pointed chit, however, that If Japan seriously desires enduring peace on collateral col-lateral questions, Russia might be ready to offer liberal compensatory considerations. considera-tions. For Instance, in lieu of direct indemnity, in-demnity, she might turn over to Japan the proceeds of the sale of all the rights and property of the Port Arthur and Dalny garrisons and the Chinese Eastern railway, and liberally pay for the maintenance main-tenance of Russian prisoners in Japan, and. while refusing to cede Sakhalien. might grant rights to the fisheries there, or even relinquish all the valuable seal fisheries on the Commander islands. It is possible, also, that satisfactory arrangements ar-rangements might be made regarding Russian naval strength In Eastern waters for a period of years. |