River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-02-04
RUSSIA LEANS
TOWARD PEACE
Will Offer Japan a Reasonable Basis
for Settlement.
REPLY TO BE READY THIS WEEK
Delay in Forwarding Answer to
Japan Interpreted as Indicating
Extreme Effort to Make Its
Terms Acceptable.

st. Petersburg, Feb. lit will be
astonishing If Japan remains intiexi-
ble," were the significant words of an
official of the foreign Office in speaking
of the Russian response to the Japan
csc proposals, which will be dispatched
to Toxic this week. The remark was
not intended to convey the idea that
Japan necessarily will accept the full
details of the Russian proposition, but
rather, if she is actuated by single
desire to preserve peace, Russia will
offer a reasonable basis in modus
vivendi. At the Japanese legation the
present moment is regarded as critical
and there is no evidence of a belief
there that the reply will be acceptable.
VIII Not Declare War.
Paris, Feb. 1.-The Gaulois quotes a
high authority as follows: Russia will
not declare war unless she is attacked
by Japan. This is the will of the car
and the fundamental base upon which
negotiations will be continued. At st.
Petersburg it is believed that Japan,
despite her belligerent attitude, appre-
ciatss the madness of engaging in
war"
Further Delay.
Paris, Feb. Another delay has
occurred in framing and forwarding
the Russian answer to the latest Jap
anese note, and this will result in
further averting the elimination of the
crisis until the middle or the latter part
of this week. The official advices re-
ceived here from st. Petersburg, al
though somewhat negative, gave def
mite details of the status of the note
and the programme it was intended to
follow. Count Lamsdorff, the Russian
foreign minister, had expected that the
exchange going on would have permit
ted the final drafting of the answer so
that 1t could have been presented to the
car Saturday for his approval, but the
expectation was not realized, and, as a
matter of fact, the answer has not yet
been finally drafted 1t was therefore
determined to defer it's submission to
the car until next Tuesday or Wednes-
day. Efforts are still being made to
so shape this answer as to prevent a
rupture. This new delay is interpreted
as slightly improving the situation, as
it indicates that Russia is making ex-
IRENE efforts to bring the answer with
in limits acceptable to Japan Owing
to the fact that the Russian answer Is
not completed, it is pointed out that
the reports concerning it's general
terms must be taken with allowance,
as the delay indicates that some of the
points which presented the most seri-
GUS difficulties may yet be reconciled
Expected Soon.
Washington, Feb Information
received at the state department is to
the effect that the Russian reply to
Japan's last note on the far eastern
question will be made the early part
of the present week. The tenor of the
prospective communication is not
known here.
Awaits Russia's Reply.
Toxic Feb. 1.-The government does
not, it is said, possess any information
concerning the character of the forth
coming Russian note, although it has
received various reports, the majority
of which say the reply will be salts
factory. None, however, emanate from
source which warrants their full ac-
ceptance as correct. In the judgment
of many the character of the note does
Lamsdorff, the Russian foreign minis
ter, has given out the slightest intima-
ton of it's contents. Even that carries
little assurance for the Russian and
Japanese conceptions of what consti-
tutes fair bargainvary materially. The
government of Japan does not antici-
pate, the necessity of the Russian re-.
ply for a few days. When 1t comes it
probably will be considered by the
throne in conference with the cabinet
and elder statesmen. The presumption
that Russia has made concessions does
not warrant the conclusion that there
will be a peaceful settlement of the
existing difficulties If the reply should
prove completely unsatisfactory to ia
pan the outcome of the conference is
manifest. Should it give partial salts
faction an exchange of notes is posi-
BILE, although there rem aims slight room
for additional diplomacy.
Desires Neutrality of COrea.
Washington Feb. Limited States
Minister Allen, at Seoul cables the
state department that Corean official
recently returned from Russia states
that the Russian government appears
to desire the naturalization of Corea.
The emperor of Corea is very conf
dent that the foreign powers will be
satisfied with his determination to
maintain strict neutrality.
Revolution Stamped Ont
Washington, Feb. 1.-According to
information received at the state de-.
partment all the ports of San Domingo
are now in the possession of the Morales
provisional government which sue
ceeded the government of Gen. Wos y
Gil. The Jiminez revolution seems to
have been stamped out.