The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-18
JAPAN TAKES FIRM STAND
DETERMINED TO SHoW STRONG
 FRONT TO RUSSIA.

Decision or Japanese sthtesHheh anu
 cabinet-RepIy from Czar's Govern.
 ment Not considered satisfactory
 The situation Now Very Crave
 People Demand Action.
 Tokio, Dec. 17.-The conference of the elder statesmen of Japan, including the Marquis Ito and the cabinet ministers, yesterday resulted, according to seml- official statement, in a determination to oppose a strong front to Russia, in view of the latter's unsatisfactory reply to the Japanese proposals.
 Another report says it is understood that, although the Russian reply was considered highly unsatisfactory, the conference decided to make another and probably last attempt to arrive at a friendly settlement.
 The situation is considered grave. Even the most sober section of the Japanese press declares that it is high time for action.
 In addition to the Marquis Ito, Field Marshal Yamagata, senior field marshal of the Japanese army and former pre- mier; Count Matsukata, one of the greatest financiers modern Japan has produced, and twice Japanese ambassa- dor to Korea, and at one time finance minister of Japan: and the Marquis Oyarna, the field marshal who distin- guished himself in the war between Japan and China, were among those who took part in the conference yester- day. which lasted three hours.
 Reticeuce n, st. Peiersburg
 St. Petersburg, Dec. 17.-The reticence of the foreign office here has increased since the dispatch of the reply of Russia to Japan, and the officials decline to confirm or deny reports of the character of the reply printed abroad. The feel ing in diplomatic circles to-day is not quite so optimistic as 1t has been, but possibly this is only reflex of the opin- ion of the foreign press, as the diplo- mats themselves admit that they are very much in the dark.
 It Is believed that the unfavorable irll- pression apparently created on the Jap anese government by the reply is due to Russia's unwillingness to place the settlement of the Korean and Manchu- rian question on the same footing. Rus sia desires to cover only the former with the treaty, leaving the latter on a sort of understanding, the exact charac- ter of which is not determined upon. Further negotiations will be necessary if Japan insists, with the alternative of ftfeir entire suspension.
 If the negotiations are broken off, Ii Twill not necessarily mean eventualities. On this point prominent diplomat said:
 .sIt seems to be forgotten that the present negotiations were not undertak- en to settle a pressing, vital issue. the failure of which would precipitate war, 1 but for the purpose of assuring peace l in the future, by clearing up misunder- standing regarding possible conflicting interests. Now, if the attempt fails, il l will naturally leave a strained situation, ] but war would only follow an actual encroachment by one power on one ot eht supposed rights of the other" | London sttif Optimistic | London Dec I7.-The Associated Press is informed that an intimatior has been received here in official quar- ters from Japan that the Russian draft l of the proposed agreement is not ac- ceptable in it's present form, and that i further negotiations on important ques' 1 tions of principle will be necessary be l fore a final settlement can be reached
 Both the Japanese and British officia i in London, however, maintain the views I they expressed in these dispatches De. I cember 14, that distinct step towards l peace has been made, and they remain l optimistic in regard to an ultimate pa. cific settlement
 London, Dec. 1s.-The Daily Mail:
 Kobe correspondent learns that at z
 conference of the elder statesmen o
 Japan endorsement was given the gov
 ernment's determination not to recedt
 from the demands on Russia concern
 ing the far east formulated June 23 last
 This indicates, says the correspondent
 the rejection of Russia's reply, and ht 1 adds that it is expected the government l will urge Russia to reconsider. This
 however, does not necessarily meal that the negotiations have reached ;
 hopeless stage, according to the core 1 spondent.
 London, Dec. 1s.--A cablegram iron ] Tokio says the despatch of troops |,
 Corea is imminent and that the eide statesmen have been summoned t,
 meet the emperor to-day (Friday).