The San Francisco call., 1904-02-08
Embassador ellis
the News to
LOOmis.

WASHINGTON. Feb. War be-
tween Russia and Japan is moment
arily expected in diplomatic circles.
Count Cassini the Russian Embassa-
dor, promptly on the receipt of a long
cablegram from Count Lamsdorff. the
Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs,
drove to the residence of Mr.. LOOmis,
the acting Secretary of State, shortly
before noon to-day, and informed him
of the dispatch received from the head
of the Russian Foreign Office. In sub
stance Count LamsdOrff' s dispatch was
to this effect:
Before Baron de Rosen could trans
nit the pacific reply of his Government
to Japan's last note to the japanese
Foreign Office the Russian Minister for
Foreign Affairs on Friday last sent
brief note announcing the breaking of
of Far Eastern negotiations, the inter-
ruptiOn of diplomatic relations and the
recall of Mr.. KurinO. the Japanese Min
ister at st. Petersburg, with the request
that he be furnished his passports
forthwith. In communicating these
facts to the acting Secretary of State,
Count Cassini added that his Govern
ment deDlored this turn of the negotia-
tions which his Majesty the Emperor
had sincerely hoped might conclude
with a peaceful settlement.
CONCESSIONS IN THE NOTE.
The ambassador called attention to
the fact that in her last note Russia
had made generous concessions to ia
pan in Korea and had furnished the
basis for a continuance of the negotia-
tions to the advantage of Japan. 1t
was added that the Russian Govern
ment regarded the action of Japan as
precipitate and remarkable.
OF the final result the ambassador
could only express his opinion that the
worst seemed prObabl 1t was stated
that NJ Kurino had received his pass
ports and would leave the Russian cap
ital tomorrow. Baron de Rosen may
have already left Toxic.
Later in the day cables from Mr.. Nc
Cormick, the American ambassador at
st. Petersburg, and Mr.. Griscom, the
American Minister at Toxic we're re-,
ceived by the State Department con-
firming IT,. news of the severance Of
diplomatic relations. These cable
grams and the communication of the
Russian ambassador were promptly
transmitted to the President
On high authority the statement is
made that the Japanese Government
has not yet received the Russian re-
ply. Doubt is expressed here whether
it ever will be delivered. Mr.. Takahira,
the Japanese Minister, stated to-day
that he was not inclined to attach
great Importance TO the charges SAID
to have been made that the japanese
Government has shown great haste in
instructing its Ministers. 10 withdraw
from St. Petersburg before Russia's
reply to Japan's last note had been re-
ceived His Government would doubt
less soon issue a statement explaining
it's motives regarding this, as well as
the more important points of the con-
troversy.
CONFER -TCES IN WASHINGTON.
An Official of the japanese legation
called attention to the fact, which he
thought significant, that the termina-
tion of negotiations was sent to ST. Pc
tersburg by the Japanese Government
on the 5th inst, while Alexieff tele-
graphed the reply to the note of jan
uary 13 to the Russian Minister at
Toxic on the 9Th. He said this step
must have been taken after Admiral
Alexieff was aware of the notice re-
ceived by his Government the day be-
fore from Japan, terminating dipIo-
matte relations.
Baron Sternberg, the German En-
bassador, had a long conference with
Count Cassini at the Russian embassy
this afternoon.
The Russian ambassador and the
Japanese Minister here expect to have
a long conference with Secretary Hay
tomorrow. The Russian and Japanese
representatives here will observe out
ward courtesy when they meet, but
will not exchange calls