JAPAN MEANS BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1904, Page 5

JAPAN MEANS BUSINESS.

i SOME CORRESPONDENTS' s IMPRESSIONS. c BY MAIL. ' t LONDON. January 4. £ "'Don't look for a declaration of war," ' save the "•Daily Telegraph's" Tokio correspondent, in a dispatch which apparently throws considerable light on the plans of the Japanese Government. Continuing, he says: "The Japanese are quite determined, and several days . ago took steps to secure certain of their Corean interests. Russia will not be allowed to occupy Corean ports, and certainly neither Mokpho nor Maseampho, both of these ports being protected against seizure. "Japan means business, without waiting for the convenience of others. If Russia feels aggrieved, a fortnight should show the extent to which she will venture. The interest should begin to centre nearer Seoul than Tokio. within ten days, but the naval overtures may retard the peace. It is thought, despite her bluster, that Russia will take no immediate action to prevent Japan doing what she thinks proper to safeguard her interests in Cored." The foregoing probably refers to the dispatch of the squadron to Massampho. Admiral Kumimura's squadron consists of the armoured cruisers Asama, Tokiwa, Adzuma. Iduzme, Iwate and Yakumo, all with a speed of from twenty to twentythree knots. According to the "Standard's" Tokio correspondent, Japan, at the end of December, notified the Powers and the United States of the actual position of the negotiations, at the same time intimating that the continued occupation of Manchuria might compel Japan to take decisive steps for the protection of her vital interests in Corea. The "Standard's" Tien-tsin correspondent says that as a result of Japan's inquiries as to China's attitude in the event of war, it is stated the throne has issued secret orders to Chinese troops to assist the Japanese. It is proposed that a Chinese army of 40.000 men under Japanese officers would in that case proceed to Liao Tung Peninsula. The '"'Daily Mail" is authority for the statement that King Edward greatly ad-mh-es the Japanese and is using every effort in the direction of peace. The '"Times" Shanghai correspondent says that both the Russian and the Japanese Governments are buying silver, principally in dollars, in Shanghai and Hongkong for shipment to the norlh. The same correspondent says that a native journal is publishing the full text of telegrams which passed between La Hung Chang and the Tsung-li yamen (Chinese Foreign Office) in April. 1596. when Li Hung Chang was at St. Petersburg, arranging for a Manchurian railway convention. These dispatches show that Russia threatened to ally herself with Japan unless she were granted facilities to construct the railway, which she represented as intended to facilitate the dispatch of troops for the protection of Russian and Chinese territory against the aggression of other Powers, principally Japan. The local Japanese officials are profoundly impressed with these documents, which, says the correspond-β-it. ire undoubtedly genuine. He adds tliat the publication of the documents cannot fail to intensify Japanese irritation. OCCUPATION OF MESAMPHO. There is a curious irony in reading of the occupation of Masampho in face of a recent New York despatch, a portion of which reads as follows: A report was current to-day that the Japanese had made all preparations for occupying the port of Masampho and that they might do so at any moment. Should such action take place on the part of the Japanese, it will bring matters to a climax, Admiral Alexieff having full power to act decisively in eaSe of such provocation. At no price would Japan be allowed to occupy Masampho, which is a strategical point between Russian fortified towns.