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Show NO PLANS FOR PEACE; STILL METQiPIGHT . ST. PBTEESBURO, . Jaa. . Tbe conference which Emperor Nicholas ha been hoi flint: with members of the' Council of the Empire, U. Wltte and other members and adTisers on the internal in-ternal and external Situations, have been concluded, but nothing; . has occurred which would Indicate that the Gevern-ment Gevern-ment Is prepared to depart from Its present pres-ent programme of continuing the war to the blfter end . . j Nevertheless, talk of peace was beard Sunday in many quarters, the foundation for It being ascribed to Foreign Minister LemsdorfTs alleged position in far or of such a course on the ground that, aside from the humiliation to military prestige involved, it weuld only mean the relinquishment re-linquishment -of Manchuria, to which Russia already is formally pledged. There is no confirmation of this statement- of Cbent Lamsdorfrs position, beyond be-yond the general knowledge that he .always .al-ways has belonged to the peace party. It is cults probable that the peace talk gosalp has been produced by the arrival of foreign' papers.' as it receives ho en-' couragement in responsible quarters here. The belief which existed In exception- . r-weH-iiifw-aea' dipiomstlg etretes that Japan would follow the fall of Port Arthur, Ar-thur, with moderate'" pesos propositions has not been realised, t p to the present time nothing has reached the Government either through the United States or other Channels. Diplomats tore cannot figure-oet the general lines of a treaty at this Juncture wmch both the belligerents could accept, but realise that If Japan makes any tort of offer, unless it Is rejected outright as not entertainable. negotiations would be opened, aad negotiations at eoc aotered , npon In which friends of both parties could use their good offices and bring about rood term a. This is the only hops tor a termination of the war which filplo-mats filplo-mats can Seek Solemn services In honor of those who fell In the defense of Port Arthur-were held on Sunday at the'Zassn cathedral snd ths Troltlta monastery. The services paesed off without demonstration of , any sort Neither the Emperor nor members of the Imperial family were present. A requiem was held simultaneously in ths Chapel Tearskoe, Selo. - Although Field. Marshal Ovarfia took pains to formally communicate the news ,of the fall of Port Arthur to Gen. Ku-fopatkln. Ku-fopatkln. announcement has not been aiade to the army in Manchuria, or at least no mention of such announcement Is made In the dispatches from the front of ths manner in which the news was received there. s 'One curious dispatch spoke of a big celebration cel-ebration of New ..Tear's d ay k along the Japanese lines, ths Russians evidently mistaking jubilation over Gen. 8toeasel's surrender for New Tear's festivities. |