The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-29
PRESENT STATUS
Japan DipIomaticaliy IatimAecs TfA1
an Early Reply 10 Their Rccrza
Note l. Dcsired-Courc a IaQnn-
exc Government C3o<hed In SECRECY
Finances Of japan Arc I'm F1ne
Shape and Outside Money VIII NCe
be Called For-Potnts n hsor
Now.

Toxic. January 26.-The Japanose
government has diptomat eally inafRit-
ed to Baron DeRnsen the Russian
minister that an early r. spzise % DE-
sared & Japan's recent Lote to Ruada-
1t is calculated here tha. the Japaness
note reached the Russ'an cabinet On
the afternoon of Janualy 1s and Il -
felt that sufficient time hts elapsed fa
its consideration and the prepar&1boa
Of a response.
The future course of the Japanese
government is a carefully guarded Sc
cret. The length of time thak japan ~
prepared 10 await the pleasure or Rus
STA is unknown. 1t seems prJbAohe
that ii has been determined 70 oct de-
cisiveiy within q few days. b popu-
lar temper has long % .osed iurther
delay. While many objested To Japan's
taking the initiative. a M JorEty would
row welcome the issuance or n hrSaf
ultimatum. and a declaration OF war
If that should prove Ineffective Seine
outside opinion here incl.nes to the be-
lief that the activity OF the Japanese
will be limited to the seizure OF Korea.
which enterprise. IL Is u ought. Russia
would not oppose The japanese 0ov-
crnment proceeds with absolute secrecy
and the people OF Japan are no even
Informed OF the exact mature Of
AAs~ <&3 va A~e
Seoul. Korea. January 2S.-Ons huE-
ored armed Japanese nave oe1n sent to
Pynegyang 10 insure he safety OF the
people. il having been reported that
the houses OF wealthy ra1ves there
We're being looted by Korean soidiers
end police disguised as The
| repor that Americans are acting In col
luSion with the ember OF tae Rus
sian legation at Seoul is entire.y with
out foundation.
The emperor has invited TO the paksce
five French and Belgian civilians to aa
as \ body guard. as he apparently fears
Japanese intrusion. TIE Japanese
have asked pointedly wi lch side b
Emperor favors, as they wis.,. to knew
If he is stih favorable to the Russian
cause.
Toxic. January 2S.-Thc olbinet anss
elder statesmen conferred for an extern
ded period today. Thev discussed ths
financial programme in the event OF the
commencement of hostilities. The ia
panese financiers in general are ofer-
Is now fully evident that the goveta-
ment will be enabled to raise an eneF-
nous sum OF money at lone. with1uf
having to place dependence upon boz
rowing from abroad.
. - IN VIII ISuaSkAn AL
swer has not yet been sent to JacaH
n 1t now develops that the points Of
difference threaten the poss bility Of N
dead lock in the negotia tom Thee
points are:
First. In Manchuria. Russia declines
to concede such unrestricted admission
OF japanese IS VIII permit the
ment Of japanese settle.Le nts.
Second In Korea. Russia insists thai
Japans privileged position should not
permit her to establish control OF the
ingress and cgress OF the sea of n An
by forufying the Straits Cf Korea.
Concerning these points and the gen
eral status OF the egot atoms. the FOB
lowing semi-officiai statement, ernax1at-
ing from the highest soUrces is made
The question is undergoing aItea-
nate phases OF depression am encsur-
cement For three on four days n
was believed that a final agree ment
vas near a hand. but yesterd y the
Eituat!on- b5came a little less hop
Concerning Korea. japan Is showing
great caution in accepting Russa's as
suiances OF japanese laramoun: AN
thority in Korea Therefore. Japan
feds that her safety reqrires the rieha
TO fortify the coast OF southeast Korea
the point On the ~JapaneEe island OF
] Tsu-TSi Shi but Russia II unwilling To
| concede this. believing the effect viii
make the sea az Japan n closed sea
Concerning M~4nciuril. the chief diff
! 6culty s-H open II tn. limitation Of
the rigt - e t3blish JaLansse settle
-nts- Russia does not spoea- TO OBJ
ject To the full liberty OF Japane q
coming or gotns indiv dual fer nrr-
poses OF trade or otherwise. but she ~
unwilling to concede rights permitting
lar to the foreign settleTntn mt at ShanK-
hal