RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 793, 21 September 1905, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS De Wijte's Version (Received Sept. 2D, 10 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 20. M. <le< Witte, at Cherbourg, was inlerviewed by a representative of the Le Matin newspaper. He explained Japan's sudden l changes of front in regard to the indemnity. M. do Wit to said he noticed after his arrival in America a change in American opinion in favour of Russia, and resolved to profit by il, and determined, in order to strengthen the current ol opinion, to yield very .-juickly on all the appearing to him just, and thus eventually narrowed down the negotiations to the indemnity. Hc;was then able to invoke the I principles of-humanity, and leave on Japan the responsibility of further bloodshed) for money alone. The American press assumed the same standpoint, ami reproached Japan. President Roosevelt eventually warned Kaneko that Japan could not longer rely upon America's support if she persisted in war on the sole question of money. (Received Sept. 20, 10.18 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 20. M. de Witte continued that Baron Kaneko immediately cabled Japan and .the Mikado's Government in dismay made a change of front. "Twice indeed," M. dc Witte added, "I received instructions to terminate at the earliest moment the ruptured negotia-* tions. The first time I requested a short grace, to avoid appearing hasty ; the second cablegram arrived on the 28th, the »vc«of the supreme sitting of the Conference, and to that 1 replied : "I am done with war ; this time it is peace."

ADVERTISING TIMES CORRESPONDENT. (Received Sept. 20, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 20. Regarding M.,de Witte's impression concerning the supposed change of American opinion it may be interesting to recall the Times' New York correspondent's cablegram, dated 24th saying the danger in Roosevelt's present attitude is thai it may seem ta the Russians or Japanese to press for peace at any price. He would never do that, but if all published accounts of his acts arc true that would be true. The correspondent added that it was beyond question that America though eagerly desirous of peace, <did not desire a peace which Japan thought was not for her interest or honour. Americans feel goodwill to Russia but an unchanging conviction that Japanese were in the right from the beginning, and in the right now