The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-10
JAP AN DEMANDS
AN EARLY REPLY
Note Dispatched to Rus
sian Government.
TIRED OF DISCUSSION
The Japanese Government Now De-
sires to Bring it to a Close
Should the Indications Point
to the Result as
FruitIess.
(By the Associated Press.)

Toxic, Jan. 9.-Japan addressed a note
to Russia today through Minister De
Rosen. It's character has not been dis
closed, but it is said that Japan requires
an answer within given number of days.
Whether the note mentions the time,
making the document an ultimatum, or
whether the time is intimated otherwise,
is unknown.
The government, however, is determined
to secure an early response and close the
discussion if it should prove to be fruit
less.
1t is understood that Japan adheres
closely to her original contention, and 1t
is believed that if Russia fails to fairly
meet the demands, war will come.
The attitude of the British and Amerl-
cans greatly encourage the Japanese war
spirit, which is stronger than ever.
Despite the general impatience there IS
no public excitement here.
Seaseho twenty-five miles from Nagas-
aki) is full of officers and their families
and friends, who are bidding them fare
well.
The suggestion contained In a dispatch
from Berlin of the possible partition OF
Korea between Japan and Russia meets
with no acceptance here. The japanese
officials regarded it as further evidence of
German support of Russia
The meeting of Elder Statesmen has
bee ndeferred for day or two.
The Russian warships which left Vlad-
livestock recently are reported to have re-
turned there, instead of proceeding to
Pert Arthur as expected.
Genoa, Jan. 9.-The japanese armored
cruisers Kasaga and Niassin left Genoa
today for Suez.
The Kasaga left first The Naisin sailed
half an hour later, both apparently going
in the direction of Naples, but no one
knows what route they will take, even
the commander before leaving, hav&g ac-
knowledged that they were in the dark
regarding the instructions contained in
their sealed orders. The general opinion,
however, is that they will so through the
Suez Canal. Much comment has been
aroused by the fact that some of the YES
ron have gathered at Suda Bay, north of
the Island of Crete, apparently awaiting
the departure of the Japanese ships.
L
to China, M. Uchida, and Prince Ching,
the Grand Secretary, had a long interview
here yesterday and discussed the pros
poets of war between Russia and Japan.
Prince Ching announced that China had
decided to maintain neutrality and ex-
pressed great interest in the nature of the
Russian reply recently transmitted to ia
pan. NJ. Uchida was non-committal on
this subject.
Paris, Jan. 9.-Official advices received
here today further convince those in the
highest authority that the Russo-Japanese
war crisis, has been averted, at least for
the present, and that the situation is again
brought distinctly within the lines of dip
lomatic adjustment. Reports, chiefly from
TOXIC, but also from st. Petersburg, give
a clear view of the circumstances leading
up to the sudden Improvement in the sit
uation. They show that the Russian an
swer actually reached Toxic the night OF
January 6, and proved to be the turning
point. Prior to it's receipt, Japan had
been making strenuous preparations for
sending two divisions to Southern Korea
The official reports establishing these pre-
parations are beyond the slightest ques-
ton, but the note received on the sixth
disclosed by Japan for the first time that
Russia fully conceded Japan's paramount
rights in Southern Korea. Russia,s con-
cession thus gave Japan practically what
she had been preparing to assert by force,
and accordingly, military activity was
suspended, as Russia's concession made
unnecessary Japan's forcible assertion of
a paramount position in Southern Korea.
The three days succeeding January 9Th
gave an opportunity to the authorities at
Toxic to consider and recognize Russia's
concession Whether it will be satisfac-
tory the reports have not yet disclosed.
but the suspension of military activity is
regarded as removing the most dangerous
aspect and as giving hope that japan is
likely to receive Russias answer in a
conciliatory spirit 1t is not known wheth-
er Russias concession goes to the extent
of relinquisning her contention for neu-
trail zone across northern Korea, but 1T is
understood that it relates chiefly to Civ
ing definite assurance of Japans rights in
southern Korea.