The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-12
JAPAN GROWING UNEASY
Cranborne Says Britain is Anxious
For Manchurian Settlement
Russia and Japan Reported to Be Max.
ing Preparations For War in
the Far East.

London.-In the House of Commons
Joseph Walton, Liberal, vino strongly
favors an extension of British trade by
means of colonia. development, accused
the Government of succession of hu-
initiating surrenders in China. He
said the time had arrived for facing the
situation in Manchuria.
The Under Foreign Secretary. Lord
Cranborne, in reply, said that British
trade in China was still increasing at
q satisfactory rate. and he was conf
dent of securing full share of railway
and other valuable concessions. The
Government, he said, was fully aware
of the position of Manchuria. The
great difficulty up to the present time
in negotiating with Russia was that
Great Britain had never yet been able
to ascertain exactly what the Russian
Government wanted. and the fact re-
NAMED that Manchuria was still occu-
pied. Russia's failure to fulfil her un-
dertaking, he said. was satisfactory
neither to Great Britain, Japan, nor
the United States. 81" .';~a {:
"Our ally, Japan" Lord Cranborne
said, sis becoming uneasy at the pro-
longation of the occupation Of Man.
churia, and we are equally anxious for
some kind Of q settlement. There are
certain elements out of which an agree
ment ought to be possible, and if Rus.
sia is prepared to give due weight to
our treaty rights and commercial in
terests, che will not find us irreconclla-
BILE to compromise"
Lord Cranborne's remarks were the
subject Of special comment because Of
the presence in London of the French
arbitrationists.
The Daily Mails Toxic correspond
ent sends rather an alarming view Of
the situation in the East to his paper.
He says that RuSsia's retention of
Manchuria. the increase Of her fleet.
the dispatch of reinforcements to Man
churia, the southwark movement Of the
occupying army in Manchurla, and the
defiant conduct on the Korean frontier
alarms the japanese. many of whom
are convinced that it would be better
to fight now than risk the eventual
loss Of Korea and the relegation of
Japan to a secondary place. He says
the Japanese are accommodating stores
and negotiating the purchase Of ships:
that q squadron is off Vladivostock. to
which port Russian vessels have been
sent as precaution, and that both
fleets are ready for action at any mo-
ment.
He says that perusal Of the ST.
L. hn
spirit of the Russian military party;
that the Russians believe they will
lose prestige if they give way now with
the result that their Far Eastern en-
pire will be lost and Japanese influence
will become predominant. The appoint
ment of Marquis Ito as President Of
the Privy Council. the correspondent
says, is favorable to peace. but Russia
must retreat, or there will be very
grave danger Of war. He says the
japanese believe that France and Eng
land will join in the expected conflict,
which diplomats at Toxic think might.
if once begun. continue for years, in
volvlng disastrous results to japanese
finance and the creation of sort of
Balkan difficulty in Korea. he adds
that confidence Is shown in the Anglo
japanese alliance.
The Standards Tien-Tsin correspond
ent says that since the 18th of the
month there has been an incessant in
crease in the concentration Of Russian
forces at Port Arthur and elsewhere,
many who were ostensibly emigrants
being In reality soldiers. He adds that
there Is not the slightest evidence that
Russia intends to withdraw or moder-
ate her policy.