The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-01-08
Taft Has Conference with
Japanese Ruler.
UNITED STATES NEUTRAL.
PHILIPPINE Governor Assures Island.
Emperor that All We Want
Is Trade Opportunity.

TOKYO, Jan. S.-The emperor and
empress gave an audience to ex-Gov-.
srnor Taft Of the Philippines and Mrs
Taft and subsequently, took luncheon
with them.
The emperor talked for some time
with Ex-Governor Taft and said that he.
rejoiced at the friendliness between,
the United States and Japan. He wish
ed the Americans to realize that Japan
was earnestly and patiently striving
for peace.
The contents of the Russian reply,
just received, are kept secret, but the
impression is that 1t is unsatisfactory.
Baron de Rosen, the Russian minister
to Japan, and Baron Komura, Jap
anese foreign minister, have conferred
at the Russian legation, where Baron
de Rosen is still indisposed.
An important council has been held,
at which the premier, the foreign mir.
ister and the ministers of war and a
rine, together with the chiefs and as
sistant chiefs of the STATS of the army
and navy, were present and in CON
sultation as to the present crisis.
The elder statesmen Of Japan will
probably hold a conference tooay.
Stocks, which had recovered some
what, have fallen again.
The general feeling here is one OK
uneasiness.
1t is known that neither Russia nor
Japan is desirous of a winter cam
paign and that both countries believe
delay will help their preparations.
The Russian government has bought
all the horses obtainable in Kalgan,
the greatest horse market in north Chi
na.
A report from Peking says that Gen
eral Yuan Shat Kai, commander in chief
of the Chinese army and navy, has
sent his chief foreign adviser, Charles
DENLY, Jr., of Indiana, son of the ex-
United States minister to China, to Pc
king to investigate the report as to the
probability of war. Mr.. DENLY has re
ported that, according to the best opin-
ions obtainable, based on diplomatic
information, war cannot be averted
The attitude of Japan toward the re
sponse of Russia is still underlined
Premier Katsura, the minister of for
eign affairs, the minister Of war, the
minister of finance and the minister OF
naval affairs held a council, when ii
was decided that the cabinet confer
with the older statesmen before de
Gliding on course of procedure. The
Japanese nation is deeply stirred Pub.
lie sentiment favors the abandonment
Of negotiations, believing them to be
useless, and urges resort to arms.
1t has been learned that Russia has
made new demands which il will be
impossible for Japan TO entertain.
All the powers are landing troops in
Korea, and British bluejackets just
landed at ChemulpO are expected tc
go to Seoul Immediately.
Constant kilograms are passing be-
tween NJ. Pavloff, the Russian minister
to Korea; Baron de Rosen the Russian
minister to Japan, and VicerOy Alex
ieff.
Governor Taft had a secret confer
ence with the Marquis Ito at the United
States consulate In Yokohama. 1t is un
derstOod that Governor Taft assured
the marquis that the United States will
observe a friendly neutrality toward
Japan in the event of war and that II
necessary it would grant the use OF
American ports in the far east to the
Japanese fleet.
A Yokohama dispatch says that Rus
sia's reply to Japan practically re-
moves all hope of a peaceful settlement