Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-03-31

nave just HEARTFELT Oh TelldDle au-
thority that Russia has asked Delcasse
to act as intermediary and open peace
negotiations with Japan. Delcasse has
signifed his willingness, but considers
that Landowners cooperation is essen
tial to SUCCESS"
Japs Again on Move.
Gunshu Pass, Manchuria, March 29.-
The Japanese are again moving forward
and the Russian rear guard has fallen
back from its position, about 10 miles
north Of sipinghai GA miles north of
Tie pass) to Chaoumiaodzi, which is sit
uated 40 miles below Gunshu pass.
Practically complete reports show that
commissariat stores to the amount OF
$1,250,000 and stores for an army corps
amounting to 100000 held at Mukden,
most of it being set on fire, the boots and
uniforms among the stores, of which the
whole army was in need, arriving from
Europe four days before the Russian
retirement from Mukden. Gen. Kuro-
patkin ordered the removal of the
stores, but his order was not executed.
An investigation will be made to estab-
lish the responsibility.
Events That Led to War.
Paris, March 29.-The diplomatic his
tory Of the Russo-Japanese relations
resulting in the war and the exact text
Of Russia's final reply to Japan, dated
February 3, 1904, which has never before
been published, has at last been given
to the world. Baron Rosen, former Rus
sian minister to Japan, did not have an
opportunity Of presenting the note to
Baron Komura, Japanese foreign min
lister, as 1t was not delivered to him until
February z, the day after he had been
informed of the rupture. Russia has al
ways claimed that the Japanese govern
ment having decided to break of nego-
lions and begin hostilities, deliberately
held up the message at Toxic until M.
Kurino, former Japanese minister at st.
Petersburg, could deliver the instruc-
tions sent him February to sever diplo-
matte relations. Japan on the contrary
contended that the contents Of the reply
having been substantially communi-
Gated by Foreign Minister Lamsdorff to
M. Kurino, and being unacceptable on
the main issue, 1t was useless for Japan
to wait any longer.
Text Of Propositions.
The text Of the propositions follows:
Il. A mutual engagement to respect
the independence and territorial integ-
rity Of Korea.
q. An engagement on the part Of
Russia not to impede the commercial or
industrial undertakings Of Japan in
Korea nor oppose her measures Cor safe
guarding such interests.
g. Recognition by Russia Of Japan's
preponderating interests in Korea and
her right to offer advice and assistance
tending to the Improvement of the ad-
ministration of Korea.
y. A mutual obligation not to use
any part OF Korean territory for strate-
gic purposes nor undertake on the
coasts Of Korea any military works
which menace free navigation of the
Korean straits.
IS. Recognition by Russia of Japan's
right to send troops to Korea in ac-
cordance with the preceding articles for
the suppression of instructions and
disorders calculated to create internas
tional complications.
IS. An engagement by Russia to re-
spect the rights and privileges acquired
by Japan as we'll as other powers in
Manchuria through treaties with China,
Japan to recognize Manchuria and the
Littoral as beyond her sphere of inter-
est.
~. A mutual agreement not to i'm
pede the junction Of the Korean and
Eastern China railroads when they have
reached the Yalu river.
49, That this agreement supplant all
previous agreements between Russia
and japan respecting Korea.
80. The desirsbility if possible Of
creating neutral zone In Korea"
No Obligation to Respect China.
A careful comparison Of the above and
preceding exchanges fully confirms the
fact that Russia from the first to the
last insisted that It was inconsistent
with her dignity to include in special
treaty with japan an obligation to re-
spect the territorial integrity Of China
In Mapchuria, reiterating in the instruc-
tions sent to Baron Rosen, which were
accompanied by note of explanation
to Japan, that Russia's position in Man
churia concerned first China and then
all the other powers having commercial
interests there, and again pointing out
the declarations already made by Russia
to foreign cabinets Of her intention. SO
long as the occupation Of Manchuria
continued, to recognize the sovereignty
of China and the binding force Of the
treaties contracted by the powers with
the Peking government.
Concessions by Russia.
With the exception of rearrange-
ment and some slight verbal changes,
the first FIVE articles are identical with
those of Russia's original reply of Octo-
Der 3, 1903. Russia made three conces-
sions in the final note, RS follows:
IL The withdrawal of the provision
IN the Russian note of January +, 1904,
declining to recognize the settlement
rights In Manchuria acquired under
treaties with China" point on which
Japan laid great stress. These rights
Russia claimed were acquired by Japan
under cover of treaties negotiated by the
United States.
RI Recedence from insistence upon
che proposition for neutral zone in
northern Korea, but again putting for.
syard Its desirabi,ity,
%, Acceptance OF the stipulation in
article three Of Japan's original propo-