The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-02
PEACE IN SIGHT.
Russia and Japan Reach Basis
of Settlement.

London, Dec. 2.-The Japanese min
lister, Baron Hayashi, received the
news Of the basis of the agreement
reached between Russia and Japan
Associated Press on the subject from
Paris last night. He said
THAT is splendid news. l have wait
ed a long time in the hope of hearing
it. With the basis reached it viii only
be a short time before the treaty is
signed. The whole difficulty so far has
been to arrive at basis satisfactory
to both nations"
Regarding the suggested arbitration
of the difficulties between Japan and
Russia, Baron Hayashi remarked:
mo such proposition has been men
toned to me. and I doubt if the Man
churian question could be settled by
that method The Hague court ap-
pears to me to exist more for the pur
pose of interpreting knotty points of
existing treaties than for dealing with
such a territorial question as Man
churia-
The other embassies here are in
clined to take a similar view of the
arbitration suggestion.
Raron Hayashi denies that Japan has
purchased or is negotiating for either
the Chilean or Argentine warships
built in Europe for those republics. The
Paris dispatch was as follows:
The Associated Press learns that
Japan and. Russia are on the verge of
settlement of the far eastern contro-
versy which promises to diSsipate the
war clouds which have been hanging
will be the result of negotiations which
have been impending for some time
past, and which were assisted by the
friendly representations of France to
Russia and of Great Britain to Japan.
The two nations have practically
agreed on the basis of treaty. the
signing of which can be prevented only
by some unexpected development
The basis of this forthcoming agree
ment is:
Russia will accept the two agree
nents entered into by Japan and
Korea, dated 1896 and 1898 respectively
under which Japan ceded various
rights in Korea, including the mainten-
ance of a garrison at Seoul In ex-
change for this concession Japan will
accept Russia's treaty with China re-
specting Manchuria.
| 1t is believed-though this can not be
stated as positive-that Japan and
Russia will reiterate their support of
the principal of the "open door" and
the integrity of China and Korea
In diplomatic and official circles here
much qualification is expressed at the
satisfactory stage on which the ne
gotiations between Russia and Japan
have now entered.
| Before the recent visit of Count
Lamsdorff, the Russian foreign min
| lister to Paris on which occasion he ac-
lcOmpanied the car torrance and Great
britain as a 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 AMIGA bic agreement on the ques-
ton in dispute. When Count Lams-
dorff arrived, M. DelcaSSe, the French
foreign minister, took occasion to point
out the interest which France had in
a peaceful solution of the difficulty. AT
the same time NJ. DelcaSse told Count
Lamsdorff that it was clearly under
lStnOd that matter he
| there would be no change, generally
speaking, in the attitude of France
! toward Russia.
Count Lamsdorff fully appreciated the
| delicacy of the French representation
but explained that the policy of the
Russian government tended to a peace
solution. In the meantime Great Brit
ain had been making energetic repreSen-
mats therefore give much credit to the
respective allies of the two disputants
for the moderation which has prevailed
in the Russian and Japanese councils.
Information has been received here to
the effect that Japan is constructing at
Seoul barracks for 900 men, though
Korean capital. This is accepted as an
indication that Japan contemplateS the
strengthening of her garrison at Seoul.
The emperor of Korea is much agi-
tated over the situation in his country
and is denying himself to. all foreigners,
evidently fearing that the Russian and
japanese represent ativeS at 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 Chem
ulpO proceeded to Seoul where the
French minister asked an audience for
the naval representative. The emperor
declined to grant this request.
RUSSIAN VIEWS ON PEACE
st. Petersburg, Dec. Enquiry has
been made at the foreign Office respect
ing the announcement from Paris that
a basis for an agreement between Rus
STA and Japan had been reached.
The statement is made that a mutual
desire for peace exists to which both
negotiatants have expressed adherence
With this end in view they have both
decided temporarily to put aside ques-
lions whose decision, on account of the
position of each, is found to be imprac-
ticable The negotiations, so far as
Prussia is concerned, are confined to de-
limiting the rights of railroad, teIe-
graph, etc, of each in Korea Japan
holds in allegiance the Manchurian ques-
tons concerning which Russia de-
clines to treat, on the ground that they
are matters between her and China.
until she ascertains whether sRtisfac-