Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
CAR IS FOR PEACE
His Cabinet and Advisers Are
for War.
LATTER LIKELY TO WIN
RUsSIA's LoNG-ESPoUSED POLICY
Is AT STAKE.
Mr.. Stead's New Paper-Sale of s'Para-
disc Lost MSS.-London
News and Gossip.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, January g. 1904.
l have today been shown two letters
which reached London this morning from
st. Petersburg. in which the position as
between Russia and Japan is very fully
dealt with. These letters, which come
from an official quarter to an official quar-
ter. make no secret Of the trouble which
obtains in the Russian capital because of
the opposition of the czar~to war and the
determination of the ministers to force 1t.
Ministerial councils have been taking place
In st. Petersburg almost daily since De-
ccmber 10. when 1t was considered that the
position became really acute. On the Mon
day following the car hurriedly summoned
a meeting of members Of his house at II
o'clock to discuss the situation in order
that resolution might be arrived at before
meeting of ministers to be held at 3
o'clock on the same day. Much to his
majesty's surprise the car found the
princes and grand dukes as intent upon
war as the ministers. it being represented
that however much delay might favor
Russia 1t would favor Japan more.
Active Preparations for War.
have been on a scale which show that in
official and in court circles alike the break
ing out of war is considered only matter
of days. Hence the war reserve, or war
chest" as it is generally called amassed at
so much pains by NJ. de White and his pre-
decessor in the ministry of finance. has
been drawn upon to the extent, roughly
speaking, of 100000 600 for the army and
$50 Goo 600 for the navy. These sums prac-
ina1 han no fnnA n.
deavors to raise a loan in Berlin of from
S1O0, 100000 to $12o.000,000 Meanwhile the
liveliest fears are felt by some military eX-
perts in Russia concerning the difficulty OF
keeping big force in the east well sup
piled.
The Siberian railroad which is only
single line for nearly 1000 miles, would. 1t
is urged, be quite inadequate to meet the
requirements. In that connection the re-
port made by tine Russian attache with the
British forces in South Africa, during the
late war, showing the difficulties encoun-
tered by Lord Roberts in getting up stores
to Bloemfontein has been, and still is, un-
der careful consideration. Finally. accord
ing to the letters referred to, Russian Off
Gals hold that despite all difficulties, num-
bers AMI resources will tell, and although
naval reverses and perhaps military re-
verses are anticipated at the outset, there
is feeling of confidence that Russia will
easily prevail in the end. and as soon as
this confidence is shared by the car the
f1oodgates will be opened.
The important feature of this far eastern
question is that the policy pursued by Rus
STA was not adopted on the impulse of the
moment. not initiated last year. nor the
year before. She is pursuing policy which
she accepted over twenty years ago. How
she is to retreat now, after having spent
hundreds of millions of money on rail-
way. no one can tell. 1t was said of Ma
poleon that in all his elaborate calcula
tons he nearly always left out of account
some essential point. When he went to
Moscow he forgot that although he might
take it, the Russians might set 1t on fire.
That miscalculation cost him half a mil
Hon lives The Russians have made elab
crate calculations for the subjugatiOn of
the Chinese, but they forgot that the Jap
anese. both on sea and land. can fight as
well as themselves. perhaps even better.
Quiet at japanese Legation.
In the midst of all this talk of war the
Japanese legation in London externally
shows little life. A stately five-storied
house in Grosvenor Gardens, it might be
the town house of a prosperous squire. so
prim it is, and so quiet instead of being the
center in big game whose issue is war.
But knowing ones profess to find signifi-
canoe in the fact that while most of Lon
dons diplomatic homes have their blinds
drawn, thus indicating that the occupants
have gone off for holiday both the Jap
anese legation and the Russian embassy, Il
thing but holiday making. The Russians
Headquarters at Gresham House. near Bel
grave Square, are much more pretentious
than those of their rival, but they are at the
same time much more retiring. The roar
of the traffic around Victoria station fills
the Japanese legation. Within the Russian
embassy not a whisper of Londons never
ceasing niurmur is heard.
Different Tactics at Legations.
The tactics of the Russian representatives
In London. as well as in st. Petersburg. are
in marked contrast with the righteousness
displayed by the lively, affable Japanese.
The caller at the Russian embassy in Bel
gravia meets a most frigid politeness. but
never a word on the crisis can be obtained.
I'VE have no information is the stereo-
typed reply to every question. innocent or
vital. At the Japanese legation there is all
the difference, the minister and his staff
ceiying visitors with true oriental friendli-
ness Within bounds. and having due re-
gard to the responsibilities of their station
Viscount Hayashi and his staff show no
Discrimination to discuss affairs, with the
result that Japan has often been able to
get her case sympathetically stated to the
great body of English-speaking people,
whose good opinions may be worth a good
deal to either side during the next few
months.
One of London's remarkable features is
the manner In which trades are congregat ted
within well-defined districts. Diplomacy ;s
no exception. Beigravia is it's great center.
There Is the Japanese legation. as l have
said. in Grosvenor Gardens Next door but
one is the Netherlands legation, and di-
rectly opposite is the Spanish embassy
fine pile. which looks into Buckingham Pal
ace gardens. The Russian embassy adjoins
Belgrave Square, and the Austro-Hunga-
rian embassy Is actually in it. Within five
minutes walk you come upon Frances pal
ace--for 1t Is little else--at Albert gate.
Mayfair. with its environ holds the Italian
and Chinese embassies, and Carlton House
Terrace that Of Germany, but Beigrayia has
a distinct majority. The American embassy
hides It's head In portion Of an Office
building in busy Victoria street.
Effect Of Chicago Theater Fire.
understand that the Chicago fire has not
had quite as much adverse effect on Lon
don pantomimes as might have been ex-
pected, and in any case nothing like the eff
feet the fire on the Paris underground rail-
way had upon the 'aTwo-penny Tube" For
one thing. the American disaster came at
time when families had ppada oJl +hof,