RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1904, Page 5

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

ALLEGED ACT OF WAR. j Fall in Continental Stocks. Russia Framing Her Reply. I Provocation Versus Surrender. (By Cable.rress Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 30. Count Lamsdorff has intimated that ■ Russia's reply to Japan will be trans- i mitted next week. I Great care is being bestowed in the I drafting of this document, and Admiral ' AlexieiTs views are also awaited before I the draft is finally submitted to the i C?.ixr. ' I The Paris correspondent of the "Times"' ■ says that interviews with prominent Russians published in Paris, and utter- j ances in other directions show that Japan's decisive attitude renders it ex- | tronicly difficult to frame a reply which j shall be neither provocative of war nor : ! involve a complete surrender. | The "Daily Mail's" Chefoo correspond- j : enl -tales that a Japanese warship ii I the vicinity of Chemulpo tired three .times across the bows of the Russian; j steamer Argun, bound from Nagasaki to j Dalny. In response to the frantic :ip- ! peals ii! the passengers the captain of' the Argun decided to stop, hut no fur- ' ther challenge was made. i French rentes have declined materi- , ally, and Paris and Russian stocks have , sutl'ered heavy loss, others being also af- | fected. . ; A rumour has been circulated that Russia has prohibited the export of cere- ; als. | The decline oi Russian stocks at Si. Petersburg has reacted on Rcrlin. A Reuter despatch says that unusual activity is being displayed at Simoustotvn (Cape Colony i. where warships are taking large supplies of coals and ammunition. In the event of war. General Kuropatkin will command the Russian land forces.