The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-31
MUCH DEPENDS ON N.
DELCASSE'S EFFORTS

LONDON, Dec 30.-Lord Lansdowne's
diplomatic reception to-day centered on the
far Eastern crisis The Russian ambassa-
dor, Count Benckendorf. was unable to give
the British foreign secretary any definite
information regarding the tenor of the
Russian reply to Japan, as he had received
no advices on the subject from St Peters
burg The foreign secretary adopted a
slightly more hopeful tone to the other
ambassadors than has prevailed at the
Foreign Office for the last few days. 1t is
learned that this is chiefly due to the per-
sistent belief OF the French foreign minis
ter, NJ Delcasse. that he will be able to
prevail on Russia to make such compro-
misses as will avert war. Ambassador
ChOate after a conference with Lord Lans-
downe expressed his continued conviction
that pacific solution would be found, and
said the indications were rot Warl1ke. IhlS
belief was not shared by some of Lord
IapsdOwne's other callers, notably the Ger
man amba ssador, Count Wolff etteTnich.
Baron Hayashi the Japanese minister,
when questioned regarding NJ Delcasse's
hopeful attitude, said he was aware the
French foreign minister was making siren
uouS efforts for peace SO far as Baron
Hayashi Fnew tonight these had not yet
been crowned with success. But the Jap
anese minister laid considerable stress
the dispatch from Paris yesterday, an
nOuncing that the French government did
not believe that war between Russia and
j.
French government must be in better
position than that of any other power to
know the nature of the Russian reply. If
they are honest in saving they do not be-
lieve there is danger of war they must be
pretty certain Russia will agree at least TO
the spirit of the Japanese proposals. Up
to now we have had no indication of this,
and unless Russia does agree there scarcely
seems any way of averting war. L only
trust NJ Delcasse will be successful"
Miniser Hayashi definitely said that the
ion, Nam el1rrri fc or
one of the japanese cardinal demands.
Baron Hayashi has declared that in the
event of war. he had the best authority for
saying that France would not join forces
with Russia, even should China cooperate
with Japan, and that the triple alliance
would preserve strict neutrality. For the
former statement Baron Hayashis author
ity is not known and his belief in Frances
neutrality in case of China joining in the
conflict creates some doubt and astonish-
ment.
In diplomatic circles here there is no in
dication when the Russian reply may be
expected At the Foreign Office and at the
Japanese, American and other legations, the
NOvOe Vremyas editorial of to-day is re-
garded as warlike, but the suggestion was
made at embassy that the remarks
might really be intended for home con-
sumption, in order to make a possible COM
promise more palatable to the Russian war
party.
diplomatic efforts to preserve peace solely
at Paris and Toxic. She has not attempted
ii is asserted here, to bring pressure to bear
at St. Petersburg, leaving that phase of the
negotiations TO France
At the Russian embassy, late this even
ing. it was said that the reply of Russia
had not yet been presented, nor had any
indication of its probable tone been re-
ceiVed.
The news of Japan's purchase of the Ar
gentine cruisers building at Genoa was re-
ceived at the Russian embassy with smile
and the remark: They are not so very
formidable after ALL"
In German diplomatic circles here the
crisis is regarded as almost entirely a
trial of strength between Foreign Minister
LamsdOrf and VicerOy Alexieff, the former
with the Cars support, being VIGOROUSLY
opposed 10 war, and the latter being believed
to favor it. Up to the viceroy is
thought in this quarter to have had the
best of it, and to have committed Russia
to such extent that compromise. in
spite of the Cars personal feeling, is i'm
DOSSible.