Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-18
AVOID WAR
Is Decision of a Council at
St. Petersburg.
The Car Not Anxious to Test Fight
ing Qualities Of laps.
The Sturdy Islanders Arc GrimIy
Rcconci!ed to War.
AVOID WAR

l4olluoIl, jim. lS.-1nc RUSSIAN COR
respondent of the Times here hears
that Il special council presided over by
the car arrived ut the conc fusion that
war should be avoided. The infefcnFe,
they say, is that the speech Of Premier
Ealfour ut Manchester. Jan. II, in
which he said, No one can contc!n-
plate hoStilities between two great
civilized countries without feelings Of
miS2lvlligS ana of Depression and
added that Great Britain would carry
out 10 the fullest extent all her treaty
Obligations. greatly influences this de-
cision. 1t is reported that as Il result
of this conclusion Russia Intends to
open ports i'll Manchuria, Withdraw her
iretcnsions with regard to Corca and
possibly even not retain Port Arthur
~; 1 military stronghold.
In what ii claims as an authoritative
statement. the Daily Graphic. his morn
ing, announces that the negotiations
have arrived at IL state leaving two
points upon which neither Russia nor
Japan is inclined to yield and as to
which no means of Il compromise have
yet been found. Both these points con-
Germ Manchuria and their acceptance
would not in the slightest modify the
legal status quo or change the admini:-
trative situation in Manchuria. but
Japan insists that they be embodied
i'll Il treaty between Japan and Russia,
while Russia as Il matter of amour
propre refuses to accept such dictation
at the hands Of Japan. Much, how
ever. is still hoped from the Cars in
f,uencc.'
The statement adds: ''Of couse any
attempt of Russia to increase very
largely her naval forces in the Far
East by moving her Black Sea or Bal
tic fleets would make war Il question
Of only Il few hours"
This; statement seems to be borne out
by The Associated Press dispach from
Toxic, yesterday. that Japan had re-
ccived itusia's communication saying
that Russia would respect TIE rights
and privileges already acquired by the
poWtis in Manchurit under the exist
ing treaties with China, except in the
case of the establishment of foreign
| settlements, which shows that ncgotia-
tons IRE continuing on the question of
| Manrhuria. At the Japanese legation,
last night, it was said that no fresh
ncWs had been received and that the
situate remained unchanged.
The Daily Mails Toxic correspond
minister ut Seoul has notified the
| corcan government that COrcan troops
have crossed the Chinese boundary re-
| pcateily and committed excuses
against the inha bitdnts. Russian Gus
toms officials on the extreme north
| eastern border report similar occur
rences and assert that the C0rcanS are
| burning villages ard killing people.
| Minister Pavloff warned the authori-
ties that sucn proceedings will neccs-
state severe measures.
TIL. correspondent says that riots
have broken out 1T Chyun@ ut Chy-
ong 10, in the province Of Pryongan,
tcrca.
The Daily Mails Seoul correspondent
cabling. yesterday. makes no mention
Of these disturbances, but according to
the Daily TcicgraphS Toxic CORE
:.nondcnt the Seoul correspondent of
the Jill Shmpo learns that Il general
risin.; is imminent ut Phong Yang and
that corca soldiers are cooperating
WIN ti!t ItDelS- L u''Iit, 't'', ""o Nv
scene OF the rising which lcd to the
war between China and Japan.
The Daily Mails Seoul correspondent
says that no armorrd train with QUICK
firing gun from the ships is ready at
Chcmulpo to rush men to Seoul as II mo
mcnt'S notice. The correspondent says
that tho ia pancSc have secured control vi
tn" C"ran court and that the Emperor
has wired Pckin and Toxic advising i
triple offensive and defcnSiv" alllanc"
ard promising not to leave Seoul
According to the correspondent. Nc
I.cdvy Brown, supervisor OF C"rcan Gus,
toms, secured possession of C"rcan held
guns on the prctcnce that they needed
repairs and locked them up in the customs
house.
spondcnt estimates that the number OF
i,iSsian troops now i'll Manchuria is 2".-
nu, half of whom are guarding the rail
roads. The correspondent says:
China s firm stand since the rc-occupa-
ton of Mukden has complicated the Rus
sian arrangements in Manchuria tor de
fence and doubled tn" difficulties Of
guarding the long line OF communications
between the boundaries and the coast
The council of war is sitting daily.
The port Of New ChwanS and ports on
lHlu river are iCe-bound.
Tho Standards 'rien TSin correspondent
says it is reported that Russia has asked
China to send 1880 troops to Manchurid
to project Chinese subjects.
The Times, this morning. publishes tn"
text of Il remarkable letter received lt
mail from its Toxic correspondent, whiCii
the late Ilcrl,"rt Spencer wrot" i'll l$'2 to
I;aron kentaro Kancko (who was cduc1t-
cd in the United States and was gradual
ed from Harvard University, who sought
his advice on the policy Of japan. The
gist of Herbert Spcnccr's advice to the
baron was to keep Europeans and Am"ri
cans as much as possible at arms length
and to take every precaution to give as
little foothCid as possible to foreigners
and. furthermore. to absolutely forbid the
marriage OF Japanese with foreigners.