THE FAR EAST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12647, 6 January 1904, Page 3

THE FAR EAST.

ADMIRAL ALEXIEFF. (Received January S, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 5. Admiral Alexicff’s visit to St. Petersburg has been postponed till February. BRITISH DEFENCE COMMITTEE. (Received January 6, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 5. Mr Balfour conferred with Lords Lansdowne and Sclborne and other members of the Defence Committee. ITALIAN CRUISERS DESPATCHED (Received January 6, 1.2 a.m.) LONDON, January 5. Three Italian cruisers have been ordered to the Far East. BRITISH CRUISER FOR COREA. LONDON, January 4. The British cruiser Sirius (3,600 tons) has been ordered to Chemulpho. RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY. LONDON, January 4. Mr Bonnet Burleigh, war correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” wiring from Tokio on Sunday night, asserts that Russia has sent a non-committal reply making for delay. He implies that Japan will occupy and fortify strategic Corean positions, leaving the next move to Russia. Meanwhile Mokpo and Masampho will be protected against seizure. It is not expected that Russia will immediately interfere with Japan for doing what she considers proper to safeguard the interests of Corea.

THE RUSSIAN REPLY. (Received January 5. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 5. There is a slight decrease in the tension. It is semi officially stated in St. Petersburg that the Russian reply is neither yes nor no, but contains rea soned proposals. The Japanese declare that Russia recently proposed a neutral zone on the Corean frontier as far as Gensan Phengyang. This is wholly unacceptable to Japan. SIGNS OF PEACE. (Received January 6, 1 a.m.) LONDON, January 5. The Czar is conferring with Count Miiravielf, which is interpreted in Vienna as a pacific sign. M. Delcasse, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, is at present on the Riviera. fie is optimistic with regard to the situation in the Far East. THE OUTLOOK. (Received January 5, 10.32 p.m.) LONDON, January 5. The “Standard” says that the feeling at Tokio is that the war party dominates the Russian Government. A great fall in Japanese stocks occurred at Tokio, several brokers being ruined. The “Times” says that the prospects of peace are not yet desperate, though there is no real sign of improvement. , GENERAL ITEMS. (Received January 0, 1 a.m.) LONDON, January 5. Russian cruisers at Vladivostock are proceeding to Port Arthur. Dr W, H. Taft, American Governor of the Philippines, has been welcomed and entertained at Tokio.

Cossacks are occupying Hsiiqitun and points on the Newchwang railway line. JAPAN AND THE POWERS. LONDON, January 4. The “Standard’s” Tokio correspondent says that Japan at the end of December warned the Powers that the continued occupation of Manchuria might compel her to take decisive steps, THE CHINESE ATTITUDE. LONDON, January 4. The "Daily Mail’s” Shanghai correspondent states that the Chinese Foreign Office has definite information from St. Petersburg that Russia intends to retain Manchuria.

Prince Ching and the Chinese Ministers, after four hours' conference, presented a. report on the situation to the Dowager-Empress, and copies were also sent to the provincial authorities. Three Chinese cruisers at Woosung have been ordered to coal, and it is believed they will join the Japanese fleet in the event of war.

The “Standard’s” Tientsin correspondent states that the Throne has secretly ordered the Chinese to assist the Japanese in the event of hostilities, and it is proposed to send 40,000 Chinese troops under Japanese ollicers to Liantung.

CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, January 4. Four hundred Canadians who served in the South African war have volunteered to assist Japan.

JAPANESE AMBITIONS. ' LONDON, January 4. | The "Spectator” declares that if the r Japanese are victorious they will likely desire predominance and probably the nuastership of the Archipelago, interfering with Australia's heritage in the Pacific.

AMERICA’S SYMPATHY. LONDON, January 4. American newspapers strongly sympathise with Japan, and declare that throughout the world Russia’s proceedings are mistrusted by officials and peoples. The “New York Sun,” replying to Russia’s inquiry as to the attitude of the United States, states that America would be neutral if her commercial privileges in , .Manchuria were not curtailed.