The sun., 1903-12-09
JAPAN And RUSSIA TO AGREE.
TERMS MAY BE ANNOUNCED TO
THE DIET TO.MORROW.
Car COnfers with His Foreign Minister
ON Japanese PropOsals-Japsn's Pre-.
dominance in COrea 10 BE Recognized
The Manchurian Issue In Doubt.

Special Gable Dispatches 10 THK Sun
PRKIN. Dec. S.-Reports from the British
and other legation are that the Mikado'
in is speech opening the session OF the
Ja .nese Diet on Thursday, will announce
an agreement with Russia.
LONDON, Dec. S.-A ne agency de-
spatcll from St. Petersburg says that peace
between Russia and Japan is believed to be
assured as the result of the Car discussing
with Count IamsdorfI, Russian Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, the repl OF Russia 10 the
Japanese proposals
The conference, which was held at Tsars-
koeselo, lasted an hour and half. Certain
notifications of Japan's proposals regard
ing Corea were decided upon, and these
were Immediately telegraphed TO Baron
de Rosen, Russian Minister at Toxic. and
Admiral AlexiefY, Russian Viceroy of the
Far East, and probably will be submitted
informally TO the Japanese negotiators at
Toxic.
1t is asserted that the notifications are OF
minor importance, and that If Japan ac
cepts them there will be nothing to prevent
n complete agreement. convention COM
ing from such an agreement would cover
only Corea, Russia acknowledging Japans
predominatng influence there and Japans
right TO exercise protectorate over that
country.
Certain reservations, however, would oe
made regarding coast defences and naval
stations for the purpose OF preventing the
interruption OF Russia's sea communication
with Vladivostok and Port Arthur.
On the other hand Russia would receive
a guarantee OF freedom OF trade IN lorea'
and Russian concessions there would DO
acknowledged Manchuria would be SUD-
ject to a separate understanding, Japan
agreeing to leave the question OF eVacua-
tion in abeyance, and to recognize Russia s
special position there.
LONDON, Dec. 9.-Although majority
OF the London newspapers publish con-
spicuously the despatch from ST PETERS
burg announcing that peace will probably
result between Russia and Japan none OF
them has obtained confirmation of the
story, which, it may be observed, Is an
elaborated version of one that has already
been denied.
The Times does not print the despatch,
but it has telegram from Pekn referring
to the frequent publication in the Far
East OF announcements that the negotia-
tions are virtually ended, Japan accepting
some visionary compensation in Corea to
save her face, while agreeing to recognize
the Russian occupation of Manchuria
These messages, the correspondent says,
come mostly from ST. Petersburg and
Berlin.
The Japanese Legation at Pekn denies
all knowledge of the negotiations, but con-
tinues to assure China that the Japanese
Government will never sign an agreement
recognizing any derogation of Chinese
sovereignty in Manchuria.
The Russians on their side declare that
they will never brook interference by
third Power. and that the question con-
Germs China and Russia alono. If Japan
has been actually overawed into recog-
nizing the Russian military occupation OF
Manchuria the loss Of confidence in Japan
will immeasurably weaken Japanese in
huence in China.
1t is certain that the long delay is having
the effect OF again drawing Russia and
China together after their temporary es-
arrangement caused by the reoccupation OF
Mukden by the Russians