The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-26
FEAR OF HOSTIuITIES BETWEEN JAPAN
AND RUSSIA.
THE LITTLE ISLAND. EMPIRE
to Resist. at all Costs, any
Secret Agreement Between Russia
and China Japan Asks for no Inter-
ference and a Free Hand Against
Russia-Thfs b Has as far as the
Three Chief Powers In the Orient are
Concerned.
e

London. March 22.-The foreign office
takes a pessimistic view of the imme-
date future in the far east in spite Of
h settlement Of the Tien Tsin Incl
dent. and entertains grave fears hi
the relations between Japan and Rus
STA may reach the danger point. Judg-
ing from Information obtained in yari-
Gus official quarters in London, Japan
has confided TO at least some of the
powers her determination to oppose. at
all costs. any secret agreements made
between Russia and China by which
the former could secure territorial or
other advantages contiguous to Korea.
The British government has received
no official confirmation tina the Japa-
nese fleet is mobilizing; but it would
not be surprised to learn that such
Were the facts.
A highly placed British official said
to a representative of the Associated
Press today:
"All Japan wants is a free hand
against Russia. This she has got so.
far as England n Germany are con-
cerned. and, 1 presume. so far as
the United States government is con-
= dlIiiOd5h i w uOl VI 3 IL ~
one moment that any of the powers
mentioned would be drawn into a war
etwee Japan and Russia. If Japan
sees nothing for it but to fight. she
would have the mora support of OBJ
jections. committed to paper, by at
least two other powers against secret
treaties with China. That is all; but
Japan seems to desire to provide
against Interference"
Confirmation of the foregoing definf-
ton of the situation was afforded by
the Japanese legation who said in the
course of an interview:
While rejoicing at the fact that
England and Russia have reached a
pacific settlement over the minor is
sue, the main questionable integrity of
the Chinese empire-remains unsettled.
In response to pressure brought by
Japan upon Russia, it was announced
that RusSia'S secret treaties with china
had been modified: but the terms have
been withheld. Until we see the
treaties. we will ont be satisfied that
the modification does not consist of
words merely. without any alteration
in the spirit. In this contention we be
lieve other powers will support U.S."
1t appears that Great Britain would
be quite willing to refer the whole
Manchuria matter to arbitration IN the
lines of The Hague conference. The
Tien Tsin affair is not considered i'm
portant enough to be disposed of in
this way and it will Immediately be-
come a matter of diplomatic inter
change between st. Petersburg and Lon
don.
London, March 22.-The Statist to-
morrow, after editorially discussing
the possibilities of a conflict between
Russia and Japan. will say:
1T is idle to deny that there is dan
| ger of complications. Nevertheless, we
think peace will be preserved and trust
that Russia will give satisfaction to ia
pan in Korea, thus removing the dan
ger of a rupture"
While holding these views, The Stat
list will devote a column of it's financial
notes to considering how a Russo-Jap-
| anese war would affect the money mar
kets. Russian credit. The Statist will
J say, might possibly fall very low.