The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-02-09
WAR IS IMMINENT.
Japan Breaks Off Diplomatic Re-
latiOnS With Japan.
Japan Will UnquestionabIy Seize Upon
Corea, and the Whole World Is
Eagerly Awaiting Develop
ments in the Far East.

st. Petersburg, Feb 8.-Count Lams-
dorff, the Russian foreign minister,
has officially informed all Russian rep
resentatives abroad that Japan has
decided to break off all negotiations
with Russia and to withdraw her min
lister and her whole Japanese delega-
ton staff from ST. Petersburg. The
Russian foreign minister thereupon or
dered the Russian minister, Baron De
Rosen, and his entire Russian staff to
leave Toxic Immediately.
Toxic, Feb. 8.-The severance of dip
lomatic relations between Russia and
Japan appears to be only step to-
wards war, although when the minis
ters Of Russia and Japan withdrew
from their respective posts quick and
decisive action is expected. When
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Komura
on Saturday notified Baron De Rosen,
the Russian minister, of Japan's de-
termination to sever diplomatic rela-
lions he is reported to have declared
to him that Japan is tired of RussiaS
delays, evasions and insincerity and
has decided to take Independent action
for the conservation of Japan's ORR
entail interests. During the final ne
gOtiatiOns Japan's repeated requests
for an answer were treated in a most
unsatisfactory manner. Japan waited
until convinced that it was useless to
wait longer and has now ended the
discussion. The indications are that
there will be no formal declaration of
war Japan will publicly define it's po-
sition to the powers. On Monday ia.
pan will unquestionably seize Corea,
and although Russia has previously
intimated that it would not interfere,
in view of that country's present atti-
tude, developments are eagerly await
ed
Paris, Feb. 8.-The official announce.
ment that Japan has broken off diplo-
matte relations with Russia has caused
a profound sensation here, as it was
generally accepted as being only one
step short of actual war.
The first intimation of this move
reached Foreign Minister Delcasse
early in the day. While he was at the
foreign office the French minister at
Toxic telegraphed that he had taken
charge of Russia's interests there on
the departure of Baron De Rosen, the
Russian minister to Japan. Later in
the day M. Motono, the Japanese min
lister to France, delivered to M. Del
casse the official notification of the
To MI Off
of diplomatic relations with Russia
The French foreign minister commu-
nicated these announcements to Presi-
dent Ioubet at the Eleysee palace and
throughout the day the ministers in
dividually discussed the situation.
Public interest has been aroused to
the highest pitch and all through the
afternoon the boulevards were flooded
with extras announcing Japan's ac-
ton.
Sunday night the imminence of war
is the universal theme in all public
places, and crowds at the hotels, thea
tiers and cafes are eagerly discussing
the war news.
The embassies and legation we're
unusually active Sunday, many of
them remaining open to communicate
with their governments. United States
Ambassador Porter, when seen Sun
day night, expressed the deepest re-
greet at the unfavorable turn of events.
About the only tangible indication
that a chance still remains of avoiding
war is the report that France and
Great Britain will at the last moment
exercise a strong restraining influence.
Unfortunately this report can not be
verified, as the officials seem to be-
lieve that Japan's decisive action has
carried events beyond the point Of eff
fective Intervention.