Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08
RETALIATION ASKED
Tokyo Chamber of Commerce
Would Boycott France.
FOR HARBO7 50 SHIPS
ACTION TOWARD RUSSIAN SQUAD
RON CONDEMNED.
French Foreign Office Makes Emphatic
Statement--London Market
Affected.
FOR HARBO7elsu SHIPS

TOKYO, May S.-Amember of the cham
Der Of commerce of this city has written TO
that organization suggesting organized
commercial retaliation on France ac-
count OF the hospitality shown by her to
the second Russian Pacific squadron
The writer proposes that the chambers of
commerce throughout the empire act
jointly in boycotting the goods of French
merchants.
1t is possible that the chamber of COM
merce here will decline to consider the
question.
British Press Critical.
PARIS. May S--The critical tone of the
British press concerning Frances alleged
breaches of neutrality in Indo-China
brought out an emphatic general statement
today from the foreign office that the ac-
cusations are unfounded. An official said:
1T is universally known that the Japa-
nese intelligence department is exception
ally efficient. Therefore if various specific
breaches Of neutrality really existed the
Japanese government would have been
aware of them and would have presented
specific charges to the French government
So far, however, Japans official action has
been confined to requesting France to eX-
ercise strict neutrality. She has not made
any specific charges nor have any specific
acts of violation of neutrality yet been
brought to our attention. The Japanese
government asked in an amicable spirit
that We observe neutrality, and we answered
that we had done and are doing everything
possible to that end. The reports to the
contrary we believe to be misrepresenta-
tons"
DR.. Motono. the japanese minister to
France, went to the foreign office yesterday
evening, where he had an extended inter-
view with Foreign Minister Delcasse The
nature of their conversation was not dis
ha Tlr
referred to Japans increasing mpa tience
regarding the alleged breaches of neutral
ity.
The feeling prevails here that the situa-
ton is gradually assuming much tension.
Reports are current that the positive in
structfons of the French officials here re-
ceive perfunctory execution on the part of
their subordinates III Indo-Chfna owing to
the individual sympathy existing between
the civil and naval French and Russian
authorities.
A semi-off1cial note issued this afternoon
says:
Contrary to the allegation contained in
dispatch from Hongkong to a foreign
agency, not only has the French govern
ment not dlsregarded the rules of neutral
1ty, but after sending it's civil and mill
tary agents very precise instructions for
the enforcement of those rules the govern
ment has unremittingly seen to their ex-
tension"
Stock Market Affected.
LONDON, May s-vague fears of pos
sible complications over French neutrality
In the far east affected the tone at the
opening of the stock exchange today The
markets were inclined to fiatness all round
Paris, however, showed an inclination to
buy Its favorites rather than sell fndi-
eating a belief there that the neutrality
question will be amicably arranged. The
uncertainty concerning the American mar
ket and the possibility of financial difficulty
here over an American speculative account
tended to increase the feeling of nervous
ness.
Denies Breach Of Neutrality.
Special Cablegram to The Star
LONDON, May S.-A dispatch from Paris
to the Exchange Telegraph Company says
that the French foreign office denies that
France has been guilty of any breach of
neutrality or has supplied coal to the Rus
slams.
Depression on Bourse.
PARIS, May S.-A general depression pre-
vailed on the bourse today owing to the
Japanese attitude against France over the
question of neutrality in the far east, The
weakness continued throughout the session
and at the close the tone was heavy Rus
sian imperial As were quoted at SSO5. and
Russian bonds of 1904 at 500 The private
rate of discount was 1ss per cent.