The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-20

Yokohama, October 15.-The Veteran
Statesmens Conferences with the cab
| met ministers at Tokia, Tuesday. while
significant of a crisis. are understood
to have been pacific, confirming the
prior conferences before the throne
June 23rd, STIMULATING the integrity OF
Corea and Chinese retention of Man.
| churia, with a recognition Of Russian
rights. These conferences indicate that
the negotiations are progressing to-
wards q pacific solution Of the problem
Baron de Rosen, the Russian minister
to Japan. and Baron Komura the jap
anese foreign minister. held their fourth
conference yesterday. It lasted four
hours. -
NJ. Lessar, the Russian minister to
China. has informed Prince Ching, head
Of the Chinese foreign office that if
China rejects the demands of Russia,
the occupation of Manchuria by the
Russian troops will be permanent. The
Russian forces at New Chwang have
been reinforced by two battalions.
London. October ia dispatch ia
Reuters Telegram company from Toxic,
dated yesterday,
important cabinet meetings were
held yesterday and today and the i'm
preston in ~well-informed circles IS that
Japan will insist on Russia's fulfllmeut
Of her promises. The newspaper COM
ment is quiet but insistent.
Tho NTioIi NT;oIi H. ~,o+ .--1-c
paper. believes the st. Petersburg gov
NJ is innocent Of the belIicose ac-
lions Of the Russian agents in the
orient. 1t urges, however, the necessity
for ~precautiOn, because the ambition OF
Russian agents not in~frequently precipi
tates hOstilities.
The Jill, also an influential paper.
maintains that the only hope of peace
lies in Russia's fulfllment Of Their
promises"
st. Petersburg, October ia dis
patch received here from Port Arthur
says the advices from Toxic show the
feeling in Japan to be more tranquil
and that the reports of extensive prep
nrations for war are denied. The Jap
anese war minister has requested the
newspapers to be more circumspect in
their utterances.
The Port Arthur official
reiterate the impossibility of Russia
~evacuating Manchuria while the rebeIl-
ion continues in China and they en-
phasize the belief that the Mikado and
the Marquis Ito are both opposed to
war.
Paris. October 15.-Oficial dispatches
from st. Petersburg say the Russian
ministers of war and of marine have
announced hat while not wishing to
make any move likely to precipttate
hostilities in the far east. yet both de-
partments of the government wish to
have it known that they are completely
prepared to meet any e~ventuality.
Official advices from Japan and China
show that the negotiations between the
Russian minister to Japan, Baron de
Rosen. and the japanese foreign minis
ter continue, but their status is not
disclosed.
In the meantime the officials here
nave been informed of the signing of
the commercial treaty between China
and Japan, which may have an inn
portant bearing on the Russo-Japanese
situation. The treaty opens Mukden,
the capital of Manchuria, and one other
point to japanese commerce.. China'S
opening Of the Manchuria capital to ia
pan. while Russia has not yet evacu-
ated M]anchuria, is considered signif-
cant and likely TO ameliorate the differ
ences.
Washington, October 15.-This was
diplomatic day at the state department
and Secretary Hay saw more represent
tatives of foreign governments than at
any time since last spring. Minister
Takahira of Japan had a long inter-
view with Mr.. Hay, in which the situa-
ton in the Far East was discussed at
considerable length. The minister has
had some recent dispatches from his
government. When asked if the situa-
ton was more pacific, he said that it
was not as imminent as it had been
Mr.. Takahira has no official advices as
to what the latest emand by Russia
,,ron Chino contain