The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-01-30
INTEREST
FEVERISH
Approaching Crisis in the East
Hinges on RuSSia'S Reply
to Japan.

ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 30.-The
Russian reply TO Japan will pot be trans
mitted until next week, according to
high authority here. 1t is said that the
delay was necesstated in consequence
Of the extreme care taken in drafting
the document Viceroy AleXeiett's
views are also awaited before its trans
mission to the czar. 1t is fully realized
here that the forwarding of the answer
will mark another critical stage in the
negotiations, everything depending OIL
iapan's attitude. 1t is feared that de
spite pacific influences the hands Of the
authorities may be forced on account
Of the excitement of the press AMI
| people.
An admiral who is influential in the
councils of the empire when inter
viewed said:
The enormous loss which the com
merce of Japan is sustaining as a re-
suit of the mobilization Of steamships
for transport service probably accounts
for the impotence the japanese are
displaying over the delay in the Rus
sian reply, but this reply will 90 to To
| kyo next week. II will be 50 cOncilia-
| tory that | do not foresee other than
peaceful settlement although it is diff
cult to feel certain in this respect be
cause of the cratic course of the Japa-
nese government during the later
stages of the negotiations
Japan has increased her demands
while the negotiations were still in
progress by insisting upon treaty recog-
milton of Chinese sovereignty in Man
churia. Russia has declared her inten-
ton not to annex Manchuria. therefore
why comply with demand that is tan
tamount to humiliating reiteration of
a former voluntary declaration?
1T is undeniable that the attitude OF
Japan is causing irritation in 81. Pc
tersburg and that feeling Of impa-
tience is growing throughout Russia.
1t is hard to account for Japan's per
sistent aggressiveness, hut this must
be attributed to the incendiary intlu-
ence of the japanese press, which Is
acting under foreign inspiration. The
japanese government must know II
stands no chance of defeating Russia
while Japan has much to lose If Russia
is forced back against the wall.
Should Japan proceed to hostilitles
her first objective probably would be
the cutting of the Siberian railroad, for
which purpose she would land troops in
Korea. She could not, however, land
more than 100000 men. and Russia has
an equal number of men in Manchuria
to meet this attack which, think,
would he quickly repulsed. | do not
believe in Il naval war. The Russian
warships would make ii impossible for
the japanese to endanger Port Arthur.
But, let me repeat, war is improbable
The British ambassador at ST. Peters
burg is the authority for the announce
ment that the Russian reply, which it
is expected will be delivered today, is
satisfactory. Although no further de-
tails are obtainable. it is assumed if the
information of the ambassador is cor
rect that Russia has made certain CON
cessions and that Great Britain will
prevail on Japan TO accept them as sat
isfSctOry.
A cable dispatch from London says
the Statist in u long article on the Rus
so-Japanese situation makes. Il striking
suggestion for the solution of the diff
Guilty which seems 10 meet the claims
and contentious of both Russia and ia
pan.