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Rh regard. The negotiations were dragging on, as the Japanese put forward very stiff claims, and the Russian delegation was totally confused and at a loss what to do. Witte himself was calm and even in high spirits.

One day there called on Witte the leading representative of the Russian Press, Boris A. Suvorin, the son of the well-known editor of the most popular and influential of Petersburg dailies, the Novoye Vremia. He came to inquire whether Witte foresaw any developments at the Conference, as he wanted to go to New York to see a lawn tennis match.

"Yes, of course you should go," said Witte with ill-humour. "We are moving in a vicious circle. We can't go either forwards or backwards with those Japs. Go and enjoy yourself, but before you go send a cable to your father saying, 'Witte will not sign the Peace Treaty.' Of course you will send it in your code."

Assured, and in the best of spirits, Suvorin sent the cable off and went to New York.

He told the sequel afterwards.

"Just imagine, I arrived in New York, and already on the station I heard the newspaper boys shouting: 'Peace between Russia and Japan. The triumph of Witte! The Japs have yielded!' What could I do? I got hold of a batch of papers and returned to Portsmouth by the first train. I set upon Witte at once.

"Excellency! What have you done? You have put the Novoye Vremia in a terrible position. It's a scandal! We shall be the laughing stock of the whole