Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-17
Conference of Elder Statesmen
Has Determined to Oppose a
Strong Front 10 Russia.
SITUATION CONSIDERED CRAVE.
Reticcnce of St. Petersburg Foreign
Office Has Increased Since Send.
ing Reply to Japan.

Toxic, Dec. 1.-THE conference OF
the elder statesmen OF Japan. includ-
ing the Marquis Ito and the cabinet
ministers yesterday, resulted, accord
ing to a semi-ohicial statement, in
determination to oppose a strong front
to Russia, in view OF the latters un-
satisfactory reply to the japanese pro-
posals.
Another report says ii is understood
that although the Russian reply was
considered highly unsatisfactory the
conference decided to make another
and pobably last attempt to arrive at
friendly settlement
The situation is considered grave,
Japanese declares it is high time for
action.
In addition to the Marquis Ito, Field
Marshal lamagata, senior field mar
shall of the japanese army and former
Premier Count Matsukata, one OF the
greatest tinanciers OF modern Japan,
and twice premier OF Japan Count
illbuNtt AullliNl b0Itlltof ullbNHHthN'l
to Corea and at one time finance
minister OF Japan, and the Marquis
Oyaina. field marshal who distin-
guished himself in the war between
China and Japan, were among those
who took part IN the conference yester-
day between the elder statesmen of
Japan and Premier Katsura, the for
eign minister, the war minister and the
marine minister lasting three hours.
FOREIGN OFFICE RETICENT,
St Petersburg, Dec 1.-THE retIcence
Of the foreign Office here has increased
since the dispatch of the reply Of Rus
STA to Japan and the officials decline 10
confirm or deny reports or the charac-
ter OF the reply printed abroad. The
feeling in diplomatic circles today is
not quite so optimistic as 1t has been,
but possibly this Is only reflex of the
opinion of the foreign press Az the d.
plomats themselves admit they are very
much In the dark. 1t Is believed the
unfavorable impression apparently Gre
ated on the Japanese government by
the reply is due to Russia's unwilling
ness TO place the settlement of the Ko-
rean and Manchurian questions on the
same footing, Russia desires to cover
only the former with the treaty leaY-
lOb lnt ldlltl On SOfl OF 6tn unutl-
standing, the exact character OF which
is not determined upon. Further ne
gotiations will be necessary II Japan
insists, with the alternative Of their
entire suspension. If the negotiations
are broken off 1t will not necessarily
mean eventualities, on this point "A
prominent diplomat said
1T seems to be forgotten that the
present negotiations We're not UNDER
taken to settle a pressing, vial issue.
the failure of which would precipitate
war, but for the purpose of nsuring
peace In the future by clearing up mis-
understandings regarding possible con-
flicting interests, Now, ifa the attempt
fails 1t will naturally leave strained
situation but war would only follow an
actual encroachment by one power on
one OF the supposed rights of the other"
JAPAN NOT SATISFIED.
London, Dec. l7-The Associated
Press Is informed that an ntimation
has been received here in official quar-
ters from Japan that the Russian draft
Of the proposed agreement is not ac-
oeptable In It's present form; that fur
Their negotiations on important qucs-
lions of principle would be necessary
before final settlement can be reached.
Both the japanese and British officials
In London, however, maintain the views
they expressed In those dispatches Dec
IA, that n distinct step towards peace
has been made, and they remain Opt
mistic In regard 20 an ultimate specific
settlement.