The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-23
JapaDs Reply Rejects FuOda-
 mental Points al Issue
POWERS STILL HAVE HOPE
War Preparations Continue Apace and the Transports and Warships Can Sail at Few Minutes Notice.
 China Is Waking Up.

Tol1io. December 22--Tt Is asserted in official circles here that the Japanese re- ply to Russia rejects the fundamental points at issue which are understood to include mutual guarantees for the pre- servation of Chinese and Korean sover- eighty, while securing their individual in- terests.
 The situation Is graver than since the commencement of negotiations but Is still susceptible to a pacific solution if Russia will quickly reconsider her reply.
 The fact that Foreign Minister Ko- mura called on Baron De Rosen. the Russian minister, yesterday instead of Baron De Rosen calling on Komura. Is explained by the fact that the baron is suffering from ear affection. But the explanation has obvious diplomatic sig- nihcanee, and 1t Is interpreted that Japan is determined not to afford Russia possi- ble ground for claiming Japanese impet- uosty as an excuse. Komuris commu- nicaton Is not believed officially to nec- essarily be tantamount to an ultimatum as rumored.
 War preparations continue apace. The
 
 five minutes notice. The Japanese pro- pose immediately to take the completion of the Seoul railroad in hand.
 Public sentiment and the press are eagerly urging the government to set limit to the Russian tactics of aggres- sion and insolent negligence"
 Will Terminate Amicably.
 London Daoap,ha, tgh In Reuter- Telegram company from Tien Tsln says the correspondent has infor- nation on the highest official authority Japan will terminate amicable.
 China Sees the Trouble Afead.
 PelSin December 22-The Chinese o. fcials are awakening to the peril cons fronting China in the even of Russo- Japanese war and theY are greatly dis tressed. Wu Ting Fang has been urg- ing the United States legation on his own responsibility to se a special au- dience of the dowager empress and im- press on her Chinas perilous position and the need of a strong army and min isters acquainted with foreign affairs. China will attempt to remain neutral though doubtless she will be subjected to strong Japanese pressure to partici- pate in conflict for the preservation of her integrity. The officials here re- cognize that the remnant of Chinas sovereignty in Manchuria is lost if Rus sia succeeds. and see the difficulty of China avoiding becoEaing entangled in a war on her own territory.
 China VIII Cooperate With Japan.
 London, December 22.-The Daily Tele- graphs correspondent wires on good au- thority that In the event of war be- tween Russia and Japan, the Chinese military authorities will cooperate with the Japanese. According to the corre- spondent in Tien Tsin 1t Is said that a number of Japanese ships are concen- trating in the vicinity of Port Arthur.
 Japanes Government Busy. London, December 22.-The Daily Mails Kobe correspondent says 1t is reported that the Japanese government is chart ering numerous steamers as transports, including three belonging to the Nippon Yusen Kaisi. a Japanese Steamship com pany. At the London office of the Ja- panese Steamship company, in response to inquiries, t was declared that noth- ing was known there of such action on the part of Japan. The ficials of the company expressed the opinion that ther would be no war and that there had not been even an intimation received by the company that the company desired to requisltion it's steamers.