The Far East.

Manawatu Herald, 14 January 1904, Page 2

The Far East.

RUSSIA THREATENS TO OCCUPY PEKIN.

TREATY RIGHTS

The Daily Mail’s Tientsin correspondent states that Russia has threatened China with the immediate Occupation of Pekin if she joins Japan. The Pall Mall Gazette’s Berlin correspondent says Russia has assured the Powers that all acquired treaty rights in Manchuria will be respected and acknowledged. AUSTRALIAN COAL FOR JAPAN. Some shipping firms are arranging to take Newcastle coal to Japan to meet the demands of the warships. SIBERIAN RAILWAY CAPABILITIES. The Siberian railway administration claim that they are able to transport seventy-five thousand soldiers a month, with equipment. CHINA STRICTLY NEUTRAL.

Japan has been advised that China will remain strictly neutral. The German newspaper Lokal Auzeiger states that the Czar has directed Count Lamsdorff to publish a communique informing the Powers that Kussia had offered Japan strategic and economic freedom in Southern Korea, also full commercial freedom in Northern Korea, but that Russia refused to allow Japan to permanently occupy any fortified place on the Korean coast or the interior. Russia proposed a neutral zone fifty kilometres along the Yalu and Finraen rivers, neither Power to construct fortifications there, the Korean Straits to be free to Russian ships and neutrals. Russia refused to negotiate regarding Manchuria, but was willing to accord Japan and the other Powers representation for commercial interests in Manchuria. CHINA AND JAPAN.

The Chinese Minister at Pekin, at the request of the Japanese Foreign Office, telegraphed on the 11th to Prince Ching that Russia’s second reply was unfavorable and that Japan could not accept it and that unless Russia receded, would be compelled to promptly resort to arms; also that Japan expected China to maintain the strictest neutrality and preserve order within the Empire, especially at Yunnan and Shangtung, and guard the foreigners in the interior in order to deprive the Powers of a pretext for aggression. The older Japanese statesmen and Ministers are conferring with the naval and military chiefs at present. BRITAIN WILL ASSIST HER ALLIES. The Premier, the Hon, A. J. Balfour, in addressing his constituents, declined to discuss the possibilities of war beyond stating that Britain would fully carry out all her treaty obligations to her allies. Japan has ordered one hundred and fifteen centimetre Krupp howitzers for immediate delivery, RUSSIA AFRAID OF WAR. Diplomatists in Berlin consider that Russia is reluctant to fight, fearing that Bulgaria will try to emancipate herself, she having raised the Balkan question to an

acute form to Austria’s The Russian newspapers aremoie bellicose and irritated at Japans 1 attitude and declare that the moral responsibility for hostilities lies with Britain’s diplomacy. They are bitter against Britain for allowing Britishers to man the new Japanese war vessels Nisshin and Kasuga. A Russian warship at Bizerta has started for the Far East, and those at Suda Bay have gone to the Red Sea. The recently-purchased Japanese warships Nisshin and Kasuga, after heading for Port Said, were seen steaming towards Gibraltar. America and Japan are feverishly striving at Pekin to secure their rights in Manchuria under the new commercial treaties before hostilities commence. The Times says the treaties entitle Japan and the other Powers to residence and equality of trade in Manchuria. Russia possibily permitted the Dowager - Empress to ratify the American-Japanese treaties as a golden bridge for a Russian retreat from an impossible position in Manchuria and limiting the issue to Korea.