RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10032, 5 July 1910, Page 4

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Ihe question of Russo-Japanese re-. latioDß, which haa lately given rise to sensational reports in the foreign i and in the Russian 'Press, writes the j St. Petersburg correspondent of the I London Times, may be briefly stated as follows: Both countries have realised the expediency of a closer understandirg. This view has been dictated by political and economic considerations.: The attitude of the others Powers—in some cases friendly, but in others, adverse—to the respective interests of Russia and Japan has only strengthened the tendency on the part of St. Petersburg and Tokio to come together. The road to a final understanding, how,ever, must be cleared of disputes arising out of the late war. /Altogether 14 controversial matters are pending. All of these, with one exception, are trifling. The exception relates to the capture of Russian hospital s hips, which the Japanese justify on the ground that they carried war stores. Russia contests thiß assertion, and raises the ques-

tion of principle. 'The case is one which seems to pertain to the jurisdiction of The Hague Tribunal. M. lavolsky and Baron.Motono will probably resume in the immediate future conversations which will tend tosettlement of the outstanding disputes. The desire on both sides to pass to the more important negotiations for a general agreement is coupled with a hearty readiness on the part of the allies of Russia and Japan to cooperate, so that there is substantial ground for the hope that that desire may be gratified without loss of time. The statement that Japan contemplates the immediate annexation of Korea are misleading. When that event oceurs it may be presumed that Japan's "allies and friends will not suffer. '■