New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
WAR RUMORS IN JAPAN.
THE SITUATION GRAVE.
Gro7oing Feeling That Russia Must
Be Checked.

Toxic June %, via Victoria. July 1.-THE
political atmosphere Of Japan in the last week
has been thick with rumors of impending war.
| The immediate cause of the angry sentiment
is succession of reports of Chinese diplomatic
intrigue with Russia at Peking and of the
Russian encroachment upon Corea. Several
secret Cabinet meetings have been held. On
June IS there was an extraordinary Cabinet
meeting. at which Admiral Baron Yamamoto.
Minister of the Navy, who has been testing the
efficiency of all the Japanese naval ports, was
present and it was rumored that the Cabinet
was unanimous for a positive policy" having
for its object the checking of Russia by an ap-
peal to arms if necessary.
On June % a conference Of the older states
men. an ofticio political power in Japan. was
called before the throne. Marquis Ito Field
Marshal Marquis Yamagata Field Marshal
Marquis Oyama, Count Matsukata and Count
Inonye were present and the Premier and
Ministers Of War. the Navy and Foreign Af-
fairs Joined them. The situation was discussed
al length. japanese papers point to the con-
ference as showing the increasing gravity of
the situation
The compelling cause Of these secret con-
ferences was the announcement from Peking
that secret convention had been concluded
between the Russian Minister and Prince Ching
and signed on June 20. II was said that when
the japanese Minister tnterrogated him on June
. the prince denied the existence of any secret
agreement with Russia. Later It was announced
that the agreement containing four parts had
been forwarded to St. Petersburg for imperial
sanction, whereupon it would so into immediate
effect
The belief is that the convention exists, but
that it was concluded between the Russian Min
| lister and the Chinese Minister. so that Prince
Ching viii be able to disclaim any official
know ledge of its existence. In the mean time, it
is stated, Prince Ching informed Mr Town
ley, the British Charge dAffaires 1T Peking.
that Vice Minister Lien -Feng had been con-
ferring with the Russian Minister, and ar
rangement wholly satisfactory to the powers
concerned would be concluded shortly.
Russia still maintains its grasp on the timber
cutting provinces on the Yaiu, and has sent a
formal note TO the Corean Government main
tanning the assertion Of its rights there.
Russia's military preparations near the Yalu
are being continued. on June Is four hundred
Russian cavalry. with one gun, arrived at An
Tung- HUien, being the advance party Of numer-
Gus artillery and cavalry which left Liao-Yang
for the Yalu. These reports are confirmed by
Official advices received at Pelin.
w F. Sands, American adviser to the Corean
court. is about TO leave Seoul for Rome. He
held the foremost position among the foreign
advisers.
A veport from Osaka says that the difficulties
between the japanese and American capitalists
interested in the Osaka Gas Company have been
settled by the representatives Of the United
States capitalists. who arrived there from New
York.
George Ferguson, chief officer of the Pacific
Mail Line steamer Syria, died suddenly from
pneumonia at Kobe on June p. He leaves a
widow and family in NeW-York.
r. NJ. Campbell, banker and one OF the rich
est men in Shanghai shot and killed himself on
June D