The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-21

stepped the MaTk-Papsrs Display The
 sreassd AIarm-No UItimatum Yet
 Sent tO Russia.
 London, Dec. 20.-Reuter's Telegram company has learned that considerable anxiety exists in the best informed cir cles of London regarding the possible outcome of the situation in the Far East. Fears, it says, are expressed that the Russian government may have oYerstepped the boundary which would make a continuation of peaceful nego- tiations with Japan possible. It may be regarded as quite certain, it asserts, that Japan will not accept the princi- ples of the last Russian note, which are altogether at variance with Japan's main contentious, and that Japan's re- ply must necessarily be cast in this sense. @ -.....
 Apart from the delicate state of the negotiations between the two nations, Reuter- says, it is also known that Rus sia is assuming a more defiant attitude and the outlook may be regarded as more gloomy than it hitherto has been, although it cannot yet be said that the resources of diplomacy have been com- pletely exhausted. @...
 It concludes by saying that there is no actual news yet of fresh develop ments, and that no ultimatum has been sent by Japan to Russia. .zes.. r,
 The morning newspapers display in- creased alarm over the aspect of affairs in the Far East, rather from the fear that some unforeseen incident may pre- cipitate a conflict than from any belief that the resources of diplomacy have become exhausted, the opinion being still almost universal that both Russia and Japan are anxious to avoid war.
 The Morning Post, which is inspired in the Japanese interest, makes a sug- gestion which may possess significance namely that Japan should cut the gordon knot by declaring a protector dIE ONGT SUIGc. pdPCt 1OtlhSAAb5 that such a solution would commend it. self to all the power with the exception of Russian and that it might even be welcomed at St. Petersburg if it be true that Russia does not desire war.
 The special cablegram from the Far East published in this mornings news papers throw no new light on the sit- uation, but all are agreed upon one hting, that Japan has not sent an ul- tinatum to Russia.
 The correspondent of the Daily Tele- graph who, after tour of Manchuria has arrived at Nagasaki, expresses the belief that there will be no war, cer- tainIy not before the spring and that Russia does not want a war before she has consolidated her position in Man churia. She is apprehensive, however, of the strength of the Japanese fleet and over the attitude of China and Great Britain. The correspondent doubts whether there are as many as 100000 troops south of Mukden or whether the stores there will last for six months. Electric lights haxe just . been installed at Mukden. The corre- spondent believes that Port Arthur Is over-fortified and says: '.All positions cannot be defended as not half of them are yet provided with guns. The Rus sians are preparing for the investment of Port Arthur but will make a fight to secure Dalny from occupation.''
 The Daily Mails Pekin correspondent declares that few Manchu nobles are delaying the conclusion of an alliance between China and Japan.
 London, Dec. 21.-The Daily Mails Tokio correspondent says that the Ko- rean foreign office denies the reported agreement to employ Russian officers in the Corean army.