Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-24
JAPS NOT PESSIMISTIC
GREAT BRITAIN BELIEVES JAP
ANESE DEMANDS ARE JUST.
Russian Papers Display Much Feeling
Against English Interest in
Settlement.

as to particulars of this intimation, whether
1t came from Toxic st. Petersburg,
brought out nothing more than that
peaceful solution is now highly probable
The British government it is understood
from another source, has represented to
the czar that Great Britain deems Japan's
demands just and earnestly expects that
Russia will grant them. This representa-
tion is supported by the utterances of the
British ambassadors here and in Paris and
Vienna. who have informed the respective
governments to which they are accredited
that japan, in the opinion of the British
government will fight If Russia holds to
the position taken in her recent note.
The Russian ambassador here has for
several days been inquiring freely what the
opinions of the diplomatic corps are.
Japanese Not Pessimistic
LONDON, December 24.-Diplomatic cir
cles in London look for several days Of
dull Russo-Japanese negotiations.
The Japanese legation points out that ia
pans counter proposals will possibly entail
somewhat prolonged consideration.
Meanwhile London Times dispatch from
Toxic, saying 1.-The best informed circles in
Japan do not share the pessimism which
appears to prevail in London, inasmuch az
the resources of diplomacy are by no means
exhausted has created more hopeful
feeling, especially as the Times yesterday
both in its dispatches and editoriolly, took
warlike view of the situation.
Ambassador Choate's Opinion.
Ambassador Choate, who yesterday at
tended Lord Lansdowne's reception at the
foreign office, is among those who
hardly conceive how 1T is possible that
some way out of the difficulty cannot be
found, in order to avoid a war which
must be so disastrous to both nations, and
the consequences of which upon other
tions cannot be foreseen.'
The reported naval and military prepara-
tions on the part of Russia and Japan are
regarded here ordinary precautions
which would inevitably be taken by the
dlsputants in such case, and which have
but slight bearing on the eventual issue of
the negotiations.
Animosity Against Great Britain.
ST. PETERSBURG, December 24-The
Russian newspapers are displaying the live
lest irritation at the British press whose
anti-Russian attitude in the present Russo
Japanese dispute has aroused even greater
public animosity against Great Britain than
exists against Japan.
The Japanese minister, NJ Kurino, has
been indisposed, as the result of a chill for
some days, and has had no interview with
Foreign Minister Lamsdorf. Neither the
members of the japanese legation nor the
other japanese residents here are showing
any signs of impending departure.
The Bourse Receivers
ST. PETERSBURG, December 24-The
hOpefulness in official circles of a pacific
settlement of the Russo-Japanese dispute
was reflected today the bourse. which
largely recovered from the nervousness
which had prevailed for several days.
Chinese to Reorganize Army and Navy
BERLIN, December 24-Yuan Shi Kai,
the commander-in-chief of the Chinese
army and navy has taken steps for the
rapid reorganization of the Chinese army
According to the Cologne Gazette's advices
from ST. Petersburg, Yuan Shi Kai pro-
poses Immediately to create military
schools, with special training courses for
non-commissioned officers, and cadet
corps, a general staff and a military acad-
emy to be opened in 1905. The Introduction
of universal military service is also planned
as well increase of the artillery
Yuan Shi kai Is reported to have advised
the court mandarins to wait three years
until the reorganization of the army is COM
plete, before declaring war on Russia.
Great Britain a Factor.
LONDON, December 2I-On the supposi-
tion that Great Britain as a last resort
might threaten to forcibly interfere, the
United States naval attache. Capt Charles
II. Stockton, pointed out to n press repre-
sentative today that Great Britain's extra
ordinarily developed naval mobilization at
the present moment was u great factor
towards peace.
The Mediterranean fleet" said Capt
Stockton, towering toward Japan, is pow
eriul- 1t Is around Suez, half way. The
BRUSH neet, now in the far east could
quickly be reinforced by part or possibly
even the whole OF the Mediterranean fleet,
whose duties would then be taken up by
the ehannei squadron. leaving the home
squadron In British waters. Great Britain
never had so many ships in commission or
men afoat as she has today"
The United States military attache, Mai
John H. Beacon, similarly pointed out that
If Great Britain insisted on peace she has
behind any such demand more men of
campaigning age who have been under fire
than any nation on earth, a military ad-
vantage which doubtless is not overlooked
by any European power"
Important Military Meeting at Toxic.
LONDON, December pa dispatch to
Reuters Telegram Company from Toxic
says Premier Katsura and War Minister
Terauchi visited the Marquis Ito, presi-
dent of the privy council, and the Marquis
Yamagata, chief of the council of field
marshals, at their villas this morning, two
hours distant by rail from Toxic
The meetings are believed to have been
connected with important developments in
the Russian-Japanese situation. The minis
ters returned to Toxic this evening.
The japanese press is urging the imme-
diate dispatch of troops to Corea, where, II
is asserted, Japanese interests are menaced
by Russian military pressure in the north
and Russian intrigues at Seoul
The impression is growing in the best-in-
formed circles that the adoption of such
policy is now inevitable.
The Chicago Market Advances.
CHICAGO December 2.-Inhuenced by
report indicating an acute situation in the
far east, May wheat advanced to "a. May