The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1885. THE RUSSIAN CRLSIS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 119, 24 April 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1885. THE RUSSIAN CRLSIS.

This forenoon we received a cablegram dated London, April 23, reading as follows : — " It is positively affirmed that a despatch has been received by the Foreign Office from the Russian Government absolutely refusing 1 to institute further enquiries into Komaroff'a assertion as to the cause of hostilities m Penjileh. the news caused considerable agitation m political circles and peace is now despaired of." "We were debating iv our own mind the abvisability oi forthwith making the intelligence public, wliena subsequent message reached us as follows : — "The report already telegraphed as to the refusal of Russia to comply with the demands of England jor further investigation into the cause of the recent hostilities has not been officially confirmed, and the accuracy is doubled." A lingering hope, therefore, remains that later intelligeuco may be to the etifect that Russia has consented to give some explanation that may satisiy the Government, though we candidly express oivr conviction such is iv the last degree improbable. By cable news elsewhere it will be seen that the Home Press questions if the present negotiations between England and Russia will bring about a peaceful settlement, and expresses the opinion that the patience of England is almost exhausted. All things consider' ed the outlook is most gloomy and ominous, and there is but little reason to expect auy other result than an curly declaration of war, as the only probable or possible issue.