The San Francisco call., 1903-12-02
Japan and Russia
on Verge Of an
Agreement.
Mikado Gives Gar a
Free Hand in. the :
North, HI.
Will in Turn Be UnmOlested
in His Operations in:
..:.' s. Korea !.


PARIS. Dec :1.-Jaban. .and: Russia
are on. the verge of a settlement~o Of the
Far. Eastern. controversy. 7which prom
ises to. dissiDats the war cloud that has
been hanging over both countries. This
settlement. viii be. h4.resuIt OF the.ne
EQUATIONS which have. been impending
for some time and 'Whfch'.vsre assisted
by the friendly representations Of
France to Russia. and. Of Great Britain
to Japan. The two nations have 'prac-
tically agreed: upon the basis. OF a
treaty. the signing Of which can be
prevented: only by some unexpected de-
veloPment- The basis: of<thjs forthcom-
ing agreement follows: -.
2 Russia VIII accept the two agree
ments entered into. by Japan and
Korea dated 1896 and 1898. respective
.ly, under: which. Japan secured various
rights in .Korea. ihcfuding the MAIN
tenance .of.a garrison az Seoul In ex-
change for. this concession Japan viii
accept Russia's treaty with. China re-
specting .ManchUria.
= 1t is. believed-though this canhot be
stated positively2that japan and Rus
principles of the "Open door and the in
tegrity of China and Of Korea.
In diplomatic and official circles here
much qualification IS expressed at the
satisfactory stage uSon which the ne
gotiations between Russia and Japan
have now entered. -:
:. FRANCE WORKS FOR PEACE.
Before the recent visit of Count
Lamsdorff; the Russian Foreign Minis
ter;:to Paris. on which. occasion he &c
comPanied the Car, France and Great
Britain, as. result. Of the: entente ex-
isting between them, had agreed to use
their influence with Russia and Japan.
respectively: for the purpose of secur-
ing an. arnjcabIe agreement .On the
question in. dispute: When Count Lafns-
dorff arrived .Delcasse.' the French For
.eign- Minister took occasion 10 point
out the interest which. France had in
a peaceful solution of the difficulty. At
the same time Deleasse told Count
Lamsdorff that it: was clearly under
stood that, no matter wha1 the result.
there would be no change. generally
speaking, in the attitude of France to-
ward Russia. :.
Count Lansdorff fully appreciated
the delicacy of. the French representa-
tion. but explained that the policy OF
the Russian Government tended to A
peaceful .solutione In the meantime
Great Britain had been making ener-
getic representations to the Toxic Gov
ernment. Diplomats therefore give
much credit to the respective allies Of
the two disDutants for the moderation
which has. prevailed in the Russian
and Japanese councils.
TO INCREASE SEOUL GARRISON.
Information has been received here
to the effect that Japan is construct
ing at Seoul barracks for 1000 men,
though she now maintains only 500 in
the Korean capital. This is accepted
as an indication that Japan contem-
plates the strengthening Of her garri-
son in Seoul.
The Emperor of Korea is much aSi-
tated over the situation in his country
and is denying himself to all foreigners.
evidently fearing that the Russian and
Japanese representatives in Seoul will
ask for an audience and present fresh
demands. This attitude Of the Emperor
was illustrated when the admiral of the
French squadron. which put in at Che
mulpO. proceeded to Seoul, where the
French Minister asked for an audience
for the naval representative. The En-
perOr declined to grant this request.