The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-28

London. July 24.-Japan has decided
to observe the policy Of waiting and
watching Russia, advocated by Great
Britain. In the meantime she will
urge China to carry out the assur-
ances given to the United States re-
speeding Manchuria and will endeavor
to Obtain the opening of additional
ports.
At the Japanese legation here the
following statement was made by an
official to the Associated Press:
Il can assure you that the talk of
war between Russia and Japan is an
invention. Japan has not The least in
tention Of taking that course. h
propose to wait and maintain her at
titude of watchfulness. Japan and
| America are acting on the same lines,
and it would be difficult for any other
power to withstand the pressure they
and Great Britain could apply"
1t is said that Japan intends to do
nothing till October. when the final
evacuation of Manchuria must occur.
The failure of Russia to withdraw
1 L i'll "Oo1o JIG Wy
a serious move on the part of Japan.
The Russian embassy here regrets
the confusion which has arisen in con-
sequence Of the publication of the re-
port that Prince Ching, head of the
/, Chinese foreign office. had written to
Minister Conger, refusing to open ports
in Manchuria. The Russian officials
believe with Washington, that the note
was sent before China gave her assur-
ance, and they asserted positively that
| TO,,rrsn on 10 n r,,r -n,,+ 70 thA LOT
ter the assurances she has given and
that she will not interpOSe obstacles in
the way of China observing her pledge
to Secretary Hay.
A despatch to Reuters Telegram
Ompany from St. Petersburg. dated
July goth says:
The attitude of Japan and the war
k tone Of the majority of the Japa-
nese press have attracted much atten-
ton in official circles here. 1t is de-
| clared by the best informed people that
there is no likelihood of war, certainly
not upOn Russia's initiative. 1t is stat
ed that Russia has every motive for
desiring peace, chiefly for financial rea-
sons with which are wound up a desire
for extensive domestic reforms. which
the government considers to be the.
most ~eficaciOuS manner of diSarming
internal discomfort and nipping the
revolutionary propaganda in the bud
1t is believed to be impossible from
Ill NbA-'2iHbI WV poIlIL " JdDdll 10
embark in a contest with Russia single
handed, and it is not thought she will
secure the material support of Great
Britain or the United States. Never
theless. Russia is taking every precau-
ton to her military and
naval position in the orient, believing
thit to be the hureSt means of discour-
aging Japanese aggression.
NJ LessarS Port Arthur conference
is said to have dealt chiefly with these
L ronn w. +l1,,-l &l~- -
be entirely precautionary, war being
the furtherest thing from the wishes of
the Russian government"
LOOKS WARLIKE.
London, July 25-The Times this
morning prints q long Pekin despatch,
commenting on the M~anchurian situa-
ton, which says that Russia's declara-
ton to the powers on the subject Of
opening Manchurian ports. which.
Prince Ching asserts was not commune
Gated to China, is interpreted in Pekin
to mean that Russia will not permit
China to enter into any engagements
with other powers regarding Manchu"
ria, which M embarrass Russia in
he future when the territory finally be
comes a Russian providence.
h correspondent says:
The air is full of rumors and the
situation seems pregnant with posi-
bilities. There is no pretense of evac-
uating Manchuria. On the contrary,
reinfOrcements are constantly arriving,
there IS a continuous southwark move
ment Of troops and guns, whilst as q
result OF General Kuropatkin's visit,
Dalny hitherto free from military pro-
lection. is TO nave two more powerful
forts and a garrison of 1900.
The coast and the railroads from Port
Arthur to a point two stations above
Dalny, is to be strongly fortified,
There are incessant shipments Of coal
and fOodstuffs to Port Arthur. and
feverish drilling and gun practice on
the Russian fleet. all of which may not
forebode war, but which accounts for
the fear in North China that war is
possible.
After describing the movement OF
Russian troops to other points, the de-
spatch concludes by saying tina the
stories Of British-Japanese joint notes
10 Russia, published in various papers,
are fctions, so far as can be ascer-
taired at Pekin. Up to the present
time, says the despatch. no policy could
be morn reasonable or more s~elf-re-
strained thar Japan's but that it is
impossible to conceal the fact that the
uncertainty Of the future causes un-
e~aSiness.