The Latest.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 10, 13 January 1904, Page 3

The Latest.

CHINA TO RKMAIN NF.UTUAL. RUSSIA'S PROPOSALS TO J A TAX Received 12, 10.20 p.m. Japan has been advised that China will remain strictly neutral. The German newspaper Lokal Auzeizer states that the Czar has directed Count Lamsdorff to puhlis'.i a communique infoi ming the i'overs that Kussia offered Japan strategic ' and economic freedom in southern Korea ami also full commercial fuedom in northern Kotea. Russia refused to allow Japan to permanently occupy any fortified place on the Korean coast or inteiior. Kussia proposed a neutral zone oi' Jii'ty kilometies (■■*! miles) aloi;'g t .e and Fininen rivers. Neither Power is to construct fortifications there, and the Korean Straits are io 1.0 J free to Russian ships and neutral. Russia refused to negotiate regarding Manchuria, but was willing to accord Japan and other Powers tepresent&tipn lot' their commercial interests in Manchuria. JAPANESE COMMUNICATION TO CHUtA. Received 13, 17 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 12. The Chinese Minister at Pekin, at the request of the Japanese Foreign Office, telegraphed oil the 31th to Prince Ching that "Russia's second reply is unfavouva&V Japan cannot accept it. and uuless Russia recedes she will be compelled promptly to resort to arms. She .expects China to maintain the strictest neutrality and preserve order within the Empire, especially in Itie Yunnan and Shawgtung districts, and; to gpmrd foreigners in tho interior in order to deprive other Powers of a pretext for agression." The older Japanese statesmen and Mii'fiiS'ters are conferring with the navjal and military chiefs at present. Among the articles in the AirgloJaipune.se ryt Jan. 80, 1902, were the following If either Great Britain or Japan, in defence of their respective interests as albove described, s'houM becoiue involved in war with ainother Power, the other Higih Contracting Power will maintain a strict neutrality, and use rts efforts to prevent other Powers from joining in Hostilities against its ally.

If in the above event any other Power or Powers shouid join in hostilities against that ally, the other High Contracting Party will come to its assistance, and will conduct the war in common, and make peace in> mutual agreement with it. The Higih Contracting Paities agree that neither of them will, without cnnsulting the other, enter into separate arrangements with another Power to the prejudice of the interests above described.

Whenever, in the opinion of either Great Britain or .I'apan, the a!x>ve-jna-ntianed interests are in jeopardy, tht two Governments will communicate with one another fully ami Xranlcly.

The following is the text of the Framco>-Hiissian Note of March 19, 1902 : —"The allied Governments of France aaid Russia, having receive! communication of the Anglo-Japan-ese Convention of Jaji. 30, 1902 concluded with the object of insuring* the status quo and general peace in the Far East, and of maintaining the independence of China and Korea which are to remain open to the trade and industry of all nations have been fully satisfied at finding therein an affirmation of tlw essential principles which tlwv themselves on more thran one' occasion have declared to constitute aivl .which remain, the basis of ' their j**/'"';, f he two Governments cons*Jer that respect for these p,i n ciV 3 ?>' tbe ?ame thne a tee for their special interests in the Far East. .Ml the same, obliged a;; itiey, too, are to consider the case in which either the aggressive acima! ° lrd PoH ' trs or fresh troui.n China, raising once more the question of the integrity ami free 'development of that Power, mi 4 t ' Xfccome a menace for their ohji ° n -