The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-04-11
IT IS NOT BELIEVED.
Russia Said to Have Broken Off
Relations with China.

Washington, April S.-The admins
tration is perpleXed over a cable dis
patch received Saturday from Mr..
Squiers, now in charge of the Ameri-
can legation in Picking. This dispatch,
according to a publication Sunday,
said that the Russian minister re-
fuses to receive official communica-
tons from Chinese commissioners"
which carried the inference that dip
lomatic relations between the two
countries interested would be broken
off. The officials are very reticent
about the matter and decline to .af-
firm or deny whether it is correctly
stated. They will go only so far as to
admit the receipt of dispatch whose
purport was not clearly understood,
for which reason it was not given to
the press for publication. Another
cablegram which reached here Sun
day from Mr.. Rockhill, the special
commissioner of the United States
engaged in conducting the peace ne
gotiations, made no reference to the
alleged refusal of the Russians to re-
ceive official communications from
the Chinese commissioners. AS Mr..
Rockhill is in a position to know
promptly what develops between the
ministers and the peace commission
ers, it is believed he would be prompt
to report a step of such far-reaching
Importance as the published dispatch
from Mr.. Squiers would indicate.
Not Credited.
At the Russian embassy no infor-
nation on the subject was obtainable.
1t was said there that no communica-
tons had come from the foreign Of
fee at St. Petersburg since the Rus
sian note of several days since, which
declared the governments intention
regarding Manchuria, a copy of which
was handed to Secretary Hay. The
Impression of the officials at the en-
bassy was that no special significance
attached to the Squiers dispatch. Ac-
cording to them. it simply meant that
the Russians had discontinued further
negotiations at this time on the Man
churian question alone, which for the
time is held in abeyance. This was in
accord with the spirit of the official
publications of the government on
this matter. which asserted that, re-
naming faithful to its original and
oft-repeated political programme re-
garding Manchuria, sit will quietly
await the further course of events"
Absolutely no concern was felt at the
embassy on the subject. the officials
Gnparently being perfectly satisfied
that the communications referred to
relate entirely to the Manchurian
question.
In other diplomatic circles the re-
port failed to receive credence, on the
general theory that the interests of
the Russian government in China
were too great and far-reaching to
permit the severance of diplomatic re-
lations at this time, when substantial
unity on many of the matters of ne
gotiation were so promising.
Japan Is Determined.
Yokohama, April S.-The Japanese
government is maintaining great
secrecy regarding its policy, but it is
said on good authority that the cab
met at meeting held Friday re-
solved to communicate with Russia
in firm terms respecting Manchuria.
There is traordinary activity in
naval and military circles.
Much Excitement.
London; April s.-The Yokohama
correspondent of the Daily Mail, wir-
ing yesterday and dealing with the at
titude of Japan toward Russia's Chi
nese policy, says: shipping com
panies have been ordered to hold their
vessels in readiness for transport serv-
ice. Cruisers on the reserve list have
been commissioned for active service.
All leave has been recalled, and Off