Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-12
REQUESTS ANSWER
TO PROPOSITIONS
Toxic Dispatch Says japan Is De-
tsrmined to Secure Early Re-
spouse from Russia.
SAYS war Will ENSUE UNLESS
DEMANDS ARE FAIRLY met
Attitude of Great Britain and United
states Greatly Encourages War
Spirit - Vienna Dispatch Says MI
kado VIII Not Take Offensive Meas
urss in Corea.

Toxic, Jan. 11.-Japan addressed a
note to Russia Saturday through Minis
ter De Rosen. Its character has not
been disclosed, but it is said that Japan
requires an answer within a given num-
Der Of days. Whether the note mentions
the time, making the document an ulti-
matum. or whether the time is init
mated otherwise, is unknown. The gov
eminent, however, is determined to Sc
cure an early response and close the
discussion il it should prove to be fruit
less.
1t is understood that Japan adheres
closely to her original contentious, and
it is believed that if Russia fails to fair
ly meet the demands war will ensue.
The attitude of the British and Amer
leans greatly encouraged the Japanese
war spirit, which is stronger than ever.
Despite the general impatience there
is no public excitement here.
Saseho Us miles from Nagasaki) is
full of officers and their families and
friends, who are bidding them farewell.
The suggestion contained in a dis
patch from Berlin Of the possible parti-
tion of Corea between Japan and Russia
meets with on acceptance here. The
Japanese officials regard it as further
evidence of German support of Russia.
The Russian warships which left
Vladivostok recently are reported to
have returned there instead of proceed
ing to Port Arthur as expected.
VIII Not Take offensive.
Vienna, jan 1.-THE Austrian-Hun-
garian foreign Office has received ca
BILE message from Toxic saying Japan
has no intention of taking any offensive
measures in Corea so long as the ne
gotiations with Russia are going on.
The officials and diplomats here are
hopeful. They believe the chances of a
peaceable adjustment of the dispute are
distinctly better since the Russian an
swer apparently is more favorable than
the early reports suggested.
Believe Crisis Averted for Present
Paris, Jan. 1l.-Oficial advices re-
ceived here Saturday further convince
those in the highest authority that the
Russo-Japanese war crisis has been
averted, at least for the present, and
the situation being brought distinctly
within the lines OF diplomatic adjust
ment. Reports, chiefly from Toxic, but
also from st. Petersburg, give clear
view OF the circumstances leading up to
the sudden improvement of the situa-
tion. They show that the Russian an
swer actually reached Toxic the night
of January 6, and proved to be the
turning point. Prior to its receipt Japan
had been making strenuous prepara-
tons for sending two divisions to south
ern Corea. The official reports estab-
fishing these preparations are beyond
the slightest question, but the note re-
ceived on the 9th disclosed to Japan
for the first time that Russia fully
conceded Japan's paramount rights in
southern Corea. Russia's concession
thus gave Japan practically what she
had been preparing to assert by force,
and, accordingly, military activity was
suspended, as Russia's concession made
unnecessary Japan's forcible assertion
of paramount position in southern
Corea.
The three days succeeding January
6 gave an opportunity to the author
tiles at Toxic to consider and recognize
Russia's concession. Whether it will
be satisfactory, the reports have not yet
disclosed, but the suspension of mill
tary activity is regarded as removing
the most dangerous aspect, and as giving
hope that Japan is likely to receive Rus
sia's answer in a conciliatory spirit. 1t
is not known whether Russia's conces-
sion goes to the extent of relinquishine
her contention for neutral zone across
northern Corea, but it is understood that
1t relates chiefly to giving definite as
surance Of Japan's rights in southern
Corea. Although reports of mediation
continue to circulate, the authoritative
statement was made Saturday that nc
steps have been taken by France to-
wards mediating. 1t is pointed out that
such movement, If addressed to Japan
probably would originate with Great
Britain. owing to their closer politica
relations.