Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-06-12
THE WAR CLOUD.

Confidential communications to their
home governments by diplomatic rep
resentatives of Washington indicate
grave consideration of the relations be-
tween the United States and Japan. In
private conversation some of the diplo-
matte representatives express apprehen-
sion. Some OF those who are best in-
formed express the opinion that within
the control of the United States and
Japan rests the peace of the world for
the present. The information that fol-
lows was gathered by 3 European secret
agent st Toxic, who communicated it to
his government sent it out to it's repre-
senta,ives abroad. The contents are
marked, purely for diplomatic reasons,
as unofficial, but this was done to avoid
possible complications should the mat
ter fall into strange hands. "That
Japan is apprehensive as to the outcome
of the ti-Japanese propaganda, read
the dispatch, ''can be proved by the
way that the Toxic Foreign Office has
been at work for the last few months in
outlining plans of defense and offense in
case actual war we're declared.
A dispatch from Vienna says that ac-
cording to one OF the representatives of a
great power chosen to take part in The
Hague conference, matters are little like
ly TO be as rose-colored at the coming
meeting OF the peace delegates as popu-
larly thought. He said yesterday:
"In circles where people are apt to
have information of what is going on be-
hind the scenes it is already well known
that sn intensely dangerous question is
10 be raised-a sort of international po-
litical bomb is to be thrown into the
would-be court of peace, aud the Japa-
nese are the aggressors. Nothing, it
appears, will dissuade them in their in
tentions 1t is this {: The japanese en-
voy, Susuki, lately Under Secretary of
State, is commissioned by his govern
ment to put forward with all fOrcibility
possible, the question of the rights of the
conqueror to annex outright the territory
of the conquered with all that is upon it.
That is to say, Japan brings up the
proposition hitherto unrecognized, to
the effect that all property in the coun-
try of the cor quered or annexed belongs
to the conqueror or annexer.
"This will be warmly denied by both
Russia and the United States. The Rus
sians have large private property in Man
churia and the United States consider
able mining and other interests in Ko-
rea OF such interests Japan proposes
to deprive them. At all events, that is
the object of her proposition.
Wudeed, the United States proposes
to bring a motion Numerically opposed
to that of Japan, and this, in view of the
present existing friction between Japan
and America, it is easy to see, contains
all the makings of first class interna-
tional row. What | have told you is the
reason why NJ. de Nelidof was detained
in St. Petersburg for days after the time
Of his intended departure. The delay
was owing TO the necessity of serious
consideration as to what Russia should
do and what attitude she should take in
the face of Japan's extraordinary and
dangerous proposition, which, ] believe,
was impaired through Susuki himself
and took the Russian government by
surprise.
"From what We hear, Germany and
Japan will in certain ways act together.
Both oppose meetings of the conference
open to the press. NJ. de Nallidof' in
that particular will act according to cir
cumstauces. That is to say, that if
there is much public outcry iu favor of
the proceedings being public the presi-
dent will be in favor Of 1t; if not, the
sessions will be held with closed doors"
When asked how long he expected
the conference to last, he said:
"Two months at least, but we believe
that there is big probability Of japan
and Germany being desirous Of breaking
up the conference and acting according
ly. Both are shy of too much restrain
ing etiquette in matters concerning de-