The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-14
PANIC RE|CNS IN
 SEOUL PALACE Korean Emperor Issues a Pit
 ifuI Edict OeROSEN HAS JAPAN'S REPLY Report Comes From Moscow That tho Russian Government Has Claimed the Services of the Entire
 Volunteer Fleet.
DeROSEN HAS JAPAN'S REPLY

hiiC WI NiNOo VI btiS NiNhS
 Volunteer Fleet.
 London, January 14.-The Seoul corre- spondent of the Daily Mail cables a de- ists at the royal palace.
 The emperor has issued pitiful edict, stating that the country is likely to be lost, owing to the weakness and vaccilia- tion of the people whom he counsels to act for their best interests
 The emperor has also issued an ordi- nance warning the army not to fire in the event of a collision between foreign troops.
 The correspondent adds that the entire city Is extremely turbulent.
 Volunteers Are Claimed. London. January 14-The Times Mos COW correspondent says that he hears that the government has claimed the ser vices of the entire volunteer fleet.
 Confusion on Railway.
 Pekln January 4.-There is gree con fusion on the Manchurian railwe to the difficulties at Lake Bail few Russian troops have arr far east by land.
 Russas military strenP a. Baikal Is exaggerated newspapers.
 DeRosen Hs'
 London, Janu9
 Tokio to Reute that Japan's 4an note was + ,aron DeRosen d that negote nout any time srmnation. IT. I i5 said to reports pub
 d some surprise
 the dispatch, and
 Japan never asked
 of Manchuria, but on
 akly recognizes Russia's 4s there, and her right to pr. Japan only demanded the realiz If Russia's voluntary pledges respectil China's territorial integrity In Manchuria, and the freedom of resi- dential rights and international trade therein.
 Japan Impresses Transport Ships. San Francisco. January l3.-A cable to the Pacific Mail Steamship company to-
  ment has impressed Into transport service the three steamships of the Oriental Steamship company plying between this city and the far east The vessels are the Nippon Maru, Hong Kong Maru and the America -Maru. They are fast boats built in 1898 and have been under Japanese sub sidy.
 A few months ago they passed govern ment inspection. The Nippon Maru and ATar anI1 ara the America 1920. The America Is due here next Saturday. and will be sent back when her cargo is discharged. The Nip pon left here December 30 and the Hong Kong is now In Japanese waters.
 Think Treaties Are Important. London, January 14.--All the morning papers have editorials which attach great importance to the ratification of the com mercial treaties between the United States and China and between Japan and China. The consensus of opinion In these edltorl- The consensus of opinion in these editorl- implies an act of sovereignty by China equivalent to a declaration that Russia's occupation of Manchuria is only tempora- ry and for specific purposes.
 The pro-Japanese Morning Post says; '',That is precisely the point for which Japan has been contending and which Russia declined to discuss with her. Japan Is now in the advantageous position to champion a cause which Is also that Of the United States"
 The Daily Telegraph says that Japan Is naturally proud of being in measure the champion of western rights in the far east.
 The Daily News thinks that China has displayed ominous courage in her recent dipIomaey which will make for peace, owing to the tremendous hazards which war, under the present conditions, would involve.
 Some importance 1t attached to the un- usually long conference between foreign Minister Landsdorff and Count Bencken- dorff the Russian ambassador last even ing. The ambassador arrived at the for eign office after the usual reception and remained an hour and twenty minutes
 No Action Vet Taken.
 Paris, January 13.--No action has yet been taken in the direction of mediation between Russia and Japan. but 1t Is learned that the powers desirous of peace in the far east are considering the desira- biffty of such a step. Whether the pro- posed action will be joint or independent remains to be determined
 Thus far the representations which Great Britain has made to Japan and which France has made to Russia, have been in the way that some pacific means be found for terminating the dispute. rather than in the direction of mediation. It was stated positively today that no representation of a mediatory character had yet been submitted, nor was 1t ex- pected that anything of the kind would be done until after the contents of the Jap anese reply to the latest Russian note had become known. There seems no doubt that such a step will be permissa- ble without giving offense to either dis putant under the terms of The Hague convention, to which Japan. as well as Russia, was a signer.
 house he would demand the yeas and nays.