The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-23
Japan Is Only Delaying a De-
claratiOn of War
Until Great Britain Tells Her to
Go Ahead.
is LEFT TO ALEXIEFF.
VicerOy Told to Settle All
Questions on the Spot
And to Take All Measures
Deemed Expedient.

Berlin, Dec. 23.-The German foreign
office. in estimating the probabilities of
war in the far east, fixes it's attention
at this moment on Great Britain rather
than on Japan, for it is recognized that
Japan is only waiting for Great Britain
to give the word before beginning hos
tilities. A new and even portentous ele-
ment in the situation as it is looked
upon here is the rising feeling in Great
Britain that Russia must yield or Japan
and Great Britain ought to fight her.
The Associated Press learns from The
highest diplomatic source that the Ger
man government, while still refusing to
believe that war is certain. is convinced
now. that if war between Russia and
Japan comes Great Britain will take a
part in it, because Great Britain looks
upon war as possibly the only means of
saving and re-esta blishing her position
in the east.
Sir Frank Haskell, the British ambas
sador, who returned from England
few days ago is understood to have i'm
parted his impression unofficially to the
German government that the British
ca 5inet apprehended that war would
result if Russia persists in her present
attitude toward Japan. This expression
of opinion by the ambassador was strip
ped of all suggestion that Great Britain
might participate, but great significance
is attributed to it.
The leading fnanciers know nothing
of any Russian OvertureS to float loan
Of SIPS, ,000, 600 in Germany and the re-
port to that effect published by the
Tagblatt in dispatch from St. Peters
burg is regarded as unfounded.
TURNED OVER TO ALEXIEFF.
st. Petersburg, Dec. PA telegram
from Vladivostoek under todays date to
the Wostatchni Vestnik says Admiral
Alexieff, the viceroy Of the far east, has
been authorized to settle on the spot
all questions concerning neighboring
states and to take all the measures
which appear expedient.'
JAPAN HAS MONEY
London, Dec. 23.-The Times Toxic
correspondent says: The specie reserve
in the Central bank amounts to lib
million yen and 40 million yen in Lon
don. Moreover the bank issuing
margin is 35 million yen. The treasury
has three capital funds aggregating so
million yen, and finally there are large
sums lying idle in all the banks
throughout the country.
The Toxic correspondents of the Daily
Telegraph and Times both deny that
Japan is trying to borrow money in the
United States The Times correspond
ent adds that Japan's financial position
IS much more favorable.
FRANCE LOOKS FOR PEACE.
Paris, Dec. 23.-An authoritative de-
nial is made here of the reports pub
lished in London that Foreign Minister
DeIcasse had offered to arbitrate the
Russo sO-Japanese dispute. The steps ta-
ken by NJ. Delcasse are confined to
those outlined in these dispatches yes
terGay he and Lord Lansdowne max
ing pacific representations at Toxic,
with the view of ameliorating Japan's
answer. g In making these representa-
tiOns France and Great Britain acted
separately, but on the same general
lines. The action therefore, is not in
joint accord, but is limited to an ur-
gent expression in favor of a pacific So
luton.
The official view here continues to be
that an agreement will be reached
GREAT MILITARY ACTIVITY.
London Dec ga dispatch to the
Reuter- telegram company from Toxic
says:
"Incessant activity prevails at mill
tary headquarters. The transports and
other arrangements are complete. The
government is calmly awaiting the
Russian reply, which it is hoped will
be forthcoming without delay. Press
dispatches from Korea report contin-
ued disturbances at Mokpho and the
outbreak of Tong Hak insurrection
in ChoI-La-TO province. The Tong
Haks are party of malcontents whose
activity was the immediate car1se of
the war between China and Japan.
These reports create uneaSiness''
ENGLAND READY TO BACK JAPAN
London, Dec 23.-The British foreign
office declined to discuss the state
ments made in the Associated Press
dispatches rom Berlin today, on the
ground that "the contingency was too
hypothetical"
At the German and other embassies
the impression prevailed, not however
based on an official communication
from the British government that the
RUSSO apanese negotiations have
reached such a point that it would not
be at all surprising if Great Britain ex-
pressed her Willingness. providing
Japan agrees to accept a certain spe-
eific compromise, to guarantee to back
up Japan. if necessary by force of
arms.
There are no known DEVELOPMENTS.
and the diplomats do not expect any
Immediately or until the Russian reply
10 Japan's request for a reconstruction
OF The latest Russian note is received.