The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-31
Japanese Preparing for the
Worst by Explaining Situation
to Diplomats at Toxic.
WAR MAY COME AT ANY TIME.
st. Petersburg Paper Processes
to Hope for Peace, but Says
That the Country Will Not
Submit to Imposition.

Washington, Dec 30-The Japanese Min
lister called at the State Department to-
day and reported. that the situation in
the Far East is one that gives great con-
Germ and that Japan is making prepara-
tions for the worst. 1t is hoped, however,
that Russia will reconsider her first an
swer to Japan's request.
Japan will await the arrival Of the Rus
sian note as long as circumstances Will
permit. II Russia does not reply Japan
will be compelled to strike.
If the Russian reply Is unsatisfactory
the situation will be scarcely better. for
the Toxic Government has in its last note
stated the minimum proposition which 1t
will submit to Russia.
Russia holds the key to the situation.
and in ST. Petersburg within the next few
days will be decided the question Of war
or peace in the far East.
PARIS LESS HOPEFUL.
Paris, Dec. 3O.-While still not believing
that war between Russia and Japan will
occur. the optimistic tone in official and
diplomatic circles here was somewhat
and st. Petersburg.
Japan. it appears. is fastening prepara-
tions for the purpose, It is suggested, Of
influencing Russia's action on the japanese
note.
Russia, on the other hand, has no inten-
tion to hurry. Her reply is not expected
to be made before January 10.
Russia's purpose seems to be to put the
onus of declaring war on japan, II such
be the result of the negotiations.
The japanese Government has notified
the foreign diplomats that the situation, in
respect with Russia is desperate. but not
hopeless. It is believed this Information
was communicated to the French Govern
ment for presentation at St Petersburg.
SITUATION UNBEATABLE.
Berlin, Dec. 30.-The Lokal Anzeiger,
without reserve, says:
1.-The japanese Government has informed
the representatives Of the Powers at To-
kio that the situation at this moment IS
unbearable and that Japan must strike If
Russia does not accept the propositions
Japan has submitted. as Japan cannot
longer wait for a final decision"
The Foreign Office says the German
representatives at Toxic have not been
informed in the sense which tho Lokal
Anzeiger says they have, and, further,
that the Russian Government has not re-
ceived an ultimatum, for that would be,
in effect, the meaning of such a declara.
tion.
News has been received here confirmine
previous reports that Japan is mobiliZing
probably with the object of occupyinr
Korea. The confirmation has reached the
German Government officially and II is
interpreted here. as in Paris, to mean moi
that Japan intends to send an ultimatun
to Russia but that Japan may occupy
Korea without Russia considering it 8
casus belli.
The situation Is regarded here to-nieh,
as developing rapidly
DAY MAY BRING WAR.
st. Petersburg. Dec. SO.-The foreign
dispatches received here yesterday after.
noon are reflected to-day in more pessi
mistic editorials. The Novoe yremya be-
gins its leader with:
There is no war to-day: tomorrow
there may be war;
The paper rather Realistically direct.
attention to the fact that wars marked
the opening of the Seventeenth, Eight.
eenth and Nineteenth centuries.
The Novoe Vremya, nevertheless. Still
processes faith in peaceful settlement
saying:
I'VE believe japan will not place Rus.
| sia in position where to yield would ap
pear to be a remuneration of the defense
| of her vital interests in the far East. Rus
| sia does not desire war, but nobody ir
Russia will permit the japanese or othel
| friends to execute a diplomatic dane.
upon Russia's peaceful disposition. II
| firm consciousness of her power Russia
| will await events