The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-23
SITUATION IN THE ORIENT.
JAPAN CAREFUL NOT TO BE AC-
 OUSED OF IMPETUoSITY.

Her War Preparations contInue Apace
 and wRrships and Transports Can
 saII at Five MinuteE NstIce-PopuIar
 sentiment and the Press Urging Gov.
 ernmsns to Set Limit to Russiau Face
 ties.
 Tokio, Dec. 22.-The fact that Foreign Minister Komura called on Baron de Rosen. the Russian minister, yesterday instead of the baron calling on Komura is explained by the fact that the baron is suffering from an ear affection.
 But, the explanation has obvious dip- lomatic significance and it is interpreted that Japan is determined not to afford Russia possible ground for claiming Japanese impetuosity as an excuse. Ko- mura's communication is not believed officially to be tantamount to an ulti- matum, as rumored.
 War preparations continue apace. The transports and the warships can sail in five minutes notice.
 The Japanese government proposes immediately to undertake the comple- ton of the zoeul Fusan railroad, under the direct supervision of Japan.
 Popular sentiment and the press are eagerly urging the government to set limit to the Russian tactics of aggres- sion and insolent negligence"
 London, Dec. 23.-Japan is not trying to borrow. Her position is most favor able. The specie reserve in the Central bank amounts to 11S,OOO,OOO yen Ca yen is equal to 4SS cents in American mon- ey) and 4O,OoO,OO0 yen in London. More over, the banks note issuing margin is S5000,000 yen. The treasury has three capital funds aggregating 50ooo. 1000 yen
 and finally there are large sums lying
 idle in all the banks throughout the country. The Times this morning contradicts the runors that the Nippon Yusen Kaisha fleet has been insured at Lloyd's against the risk of capture, seizure or detention, and says that the vessels are
 only insured against ordinary sea perils to half their value. Berlin, Dec 23.--The Tageblast's St. r,,+ snx,,. ;e ;a - ;5 in financial circles that the Russian government Is sounding Berlin bankers regarding the oating of loan amount ing to s125, 100000 f The Russian government, the corre- spondent says, thinks it can use the negotiations for a commercial treaty l between Russia and Germany as club | to compel the German government to permit the loan. London, Dec. 23.-The Daily Mails Tien Tsin correspondent learns upon | what he says is good authority that in the event of war between Russia and Japan, the Chinese military authorities will cooperate with the Japanese. According to the correspondent, it is
 said, in Tien Tsin that a number of Japanese warships are concentrating in
 the vicinity of Port Arthur. | London, Dec. 22.-The Japanese con- sul general in London said to the As- sociated Press today: T share the view of BVaron Haya- shi, the Japanese minister to Great Britain), that war will not break out
 Tn xyiay <F fhn negotiations have been conducted at Tokio and St. Petersburg it seems to me that many of the reports reaching this country concerning what has been going on are based on transformation" An official of the, Yokohama Specie bank said: 'There is nothing in our
 advices to lead to the belief that there will be war. Business telegrams were received to-day, the nature of which
 would not be likely if war was regard | ed imminent"
 Other leading Japanese business men expressed similar views. | A despatch to Reuters Telegram company from Tien Tsin says the cor | respondent has been informed on the highest Chinese official authority that the negotiations between Russia and Japan will terminate amicably.
 Tokio, Dec. 22.--It is asserted in off,
 cial circles here that the Japanese reply l to Russia rejects the fundamental 1 points at issue, which are understood to include mutual guarantees for the
 preservation of Chinese and Corean
 sovereignty, while securing their indi- vidual interests.
 i The situation is graver than since the
 commencement of the negotiations, but l is still susceptible to pacific solution
 if Russia will quickly reconsider her re- | ply,