New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
No Sign Of Far East U!timQtWm-
Dir. BaIfOur'S Position.
Especial to The Nsw-Tora Tribune by French ca0ls'

Copyright. 1904: b. The Tribune Assoc.ationl
London. Jan. 9.-The powder magazine in the
Far East has not yeI exploded, and may not II
the negotators have cool heads. Preparations
for war are made so osteutatiously on both sides
that suspicious are excited that each contestant
is seeking 20 fr!Ehten the other. The Russians
have dispatched more troops into Manchurla,
have strengthened the Notifications at Port
Arthur, have ordered additional contracts for
military supplies. have sent cut battleships ana
cruisers to meet :he japanese feet, have re-
called important officials Ike the Grand Duke
Vladimir 70 ST Petersburg. and have instructed
the official press to announce that no cOnces-
eions can be considered. The japanese have
powerful fleet ready for action, sending
two warships TO sea from Genoa under sealed
orders, are prepared 30 land 10000 troops in
Corea at a moments notice. and are intriguing
for Chinese assistance. War is clearly expected
by the exctable and patriotic japanese and by
the slUggigh Russian peasants and merchants.
and It may come suddenly. The Japanese feet
is superior TO the Russian fleet f. ships. guns.
men and training. and the temptation TO strike
a crushing blow may be Irresistible Corea,
with foreign guards landing for the protection
OF embassies. is honeycoTabed with revolution
ard invites invasion by both rivals.
The situation without doubt is critical, but a
peaceable solution IS possible. and the British
and French Foreign offices, which have been in
close communication this week, are making
strenuous efforts TO facilitate 81. While every
detail Of preparation is reported and eK-
aggerated. negotiations either escape observa-
ton or sre snmeshed with contradictions. While
each government considers the others replies
unsatisfactory. there is no sign that ulti-
matum has been sent out either side On
the contrary the Russians are seeking to gain
time by transferring negotiations to St Peters
burg. where the Gar appear at tho best
advantage the worlds great peacemaker.
Diplomatists here assert that peace can be
maintained. first. If Japan drops her demands
respecting Manchuria and takes up the same
position the United States and other powers
respecting the open door and commercial rights,
and, secondly, if Russia abandons the quest
for ports and naval stations and neutral zone
IN Corea and leaves that country under the
protection OF her powerful maritime neghbor.
Peace might be arranged by a partition OF
territories If the Coreans did not guard their
independence jealousy. AS II is, the conditions
OF peace must be worked out If at ALL under
the joint convention OF 1898, under which both
Russia and Japan can keep military guards
IN Corea, but cannot invade the country or
secure naval base any territory. This
implies faith in Russian paper pledges. which
becomes more difficult time goes on.
There has been no official confirmation Of the
Tumors that the decision OF the arbitrator OF
the Venezuela claims viii be against the pref
erence for the belligerent blockading powers.
This viii be IN line with Wayne MacVeagh's
able argument before the court and fresh
guarantee OF peace and order in Spanish Amer
ica and immunity from European naval raids.
There is no discussion here Of the Presidents
Panama message. It is regarded as exclusively
American There IS much greater
interest in the American cotton supply and the
necessity for defending Lancashire trade
against gambling in what Is the lifeblood OF
her people. Mr. BalfoUr has agreed to meet a
delegation from Manchester, but even the
n angrIest master spinner must admit that legis-
u lation against speculation at home or abroad
is impracticable. The Sne between legitimate
speculation based on demand and supply and ille-
Ultimate gambling based on artificial conditions
produced by corners and the manipulation Of
crop reports and stocks cannot be drawn by
the cleverest lawyer. The plan for restricting
the output by cutting down the working time
OF the factories TO forty hours week for four
weeks has been seriously discussed but is not
considered practicable since there is powerful
competition. Outside the Master Spinners' Fed
GRAFTON there is plan for abolishing deal
ings in futures and obtaining . trustworthy sup
ply for Lancashire without paper contracts
The spinners conf plain that the contracts are
not fulfilled and that they have been compelled
10 buy q second time at tn extortionate price
the 100000 bales already engaged at a low
price. The new plan commits the spinners
against the operations OF futures and substi-
tUtes the purchase Of cotton outright and the
holding Of a common stock equal to a three
months supply.
The partial transfer Of the American Lines
operations 20 Plymouth is celebrated to-day
by the excursion organized by the Great West
err Railway and directed by II. NJ Snow. man
ager OF the International Sleeping Car Com
pany. large party has gone a special
train 10 Plymouth to meet the Philadelphia
which is twenty-four hours late. owing 70 de-
sentiOn by fog in New-York Harbor A dinner,
with appropriate references to the 1Iayfower,
and a special excursion 10 The steamer fol-
low as matter OF course. The landing
OF the American liners at Plymouth is a great
Improvement and the Great Western Railway
has made admirable ARA ngeuents for expedit-
ing malls and passenger service. The American
Line IS much better and more trustworthy since
the SHIPS have been allowed q fun week in
port ike the CunsrGers,
Mr Rafour is IN an unfortunate position
When good work IS really done by him II es-
capes observation. He has followed foreign af-
fairs most closely, and exerted strong influence
in the complications in the Far East, but he re-