The San Francisco call., 1904-02-09
PLOMATISTS
HAVE A FEAR
FOR JAPANESE
French Officials Think
Russia Will Crush
Her Enemy.
Powers May Combine to
Make Early End of
the Conflict.

PARIS, Feb. S.-The Echo de Paris
publishes the following. attributed TO
a person of high official standing:
Opinion at the Foreign Office is very
pessimistic. but can assure you that
French diplomacy will be equal TO the
task of striving to effect a conclusion
and sparing Japan the crushing defeat
which threatens her. The final crush
ing of Japan is certain and under the
conditions France considers it to be to
the interest of Great Britain, Japan's
ally. to exercise decisive pressure III
order to avert war. There is no doubt
that France is ready. if the japanese
Government is willing, TO offer her me
diation to Japan and Russia, If 1t is
not too late. Lord LansdOwne mas OF
fered Japan Great Britain's good offices
and King Edward has sent a long tele-
gram to the MikadO, begging him 70
reflect.
AT the present time China is remain
ing neutral. The Intervention Of a third
power being unlikely a general confia-
grafton in the Far East is not to be
feared.
NATIONS APPRENTICESHIP.
'At the first decisive defeat sustained
by Japan France and Great Britain Will
renew the offer Of their good offices,
should these have been declined the
first time The Foreign Office expects
to receive long kilograms from the
French diplomatic representatives az
Toxic and St. Petersburg"
The GaulOis, maintaining that war
has been forced on Russia by the vain
glorious folly Of Japan, that parVenue
of civilization" declares that Russia is
about to shed her blood for Europe.
whom she viii save from the yellow
peril The paper declares also that the
war is almost certain TO be localized,
adding that the British Government
has given NJ. Delcasse formal assur-
ances on this subject.
Continuing the GaulOfs says that
French diplomatic circles consider that
Great Britain, in spite or her antipathy
for Russia. will find it to her interest
TO conciliate that power, especially or
account of her projects in Thibet. and
that she will Immediately inform Japan
that not having needed her pacific
cOunsels Japan cannot count on the
support OF the British Cabinet.
ATTITUDE OF THE FRENCH.
It is probable that a collective note
signed by the British, French and Ger
man and. it is hoped, the American
chanceIlOries. will shortly be addressed
to Japan notifying her of the neutrality
OF these four powers IA whatever may
happen. Eventual French intervention.
the GaulOis concludes. Will thus De
avoided and this is something the Quai
d'Orsay considers a vital point.
OF the papers published here the Gil
Bias alone does not express sympathy
for Russia, but declares that the power
which did not help France at the time
OF the FashOda incident cannot expect
Frenchmen 10 risk their skins for Rus
sian interests in Manchuria. The Ma
tin is strongly pro- Russian and accuses
Japan of aggressive brutality.
The correspondent of the Matin in
London telegraphs another interview
with Baron Hayashi. the Japanese Min
ister there, who told him that Japan
has already notified China that in the
event of her victory the integrity Of
China will be respected. The Minister
hinted that one of the principal objects
of the japanese in the beginning of
/ the campaign would be the destruction
/ of the railroad from Harbin to Port
/ Arthur and that Japan hoped for much
/ from the Manchurian brigands, who
! detest. the Russians.