RUMOURS CONCERNING THE REPLY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 78710, 11 January 1904, Page 3

RUMOURS CONCERNING THE REPLY.

SITUATION "NOI ENTIRELY HOPELESS." ■*" ,

LONDON, Janfaary 9. OfhViil circles in Phit's nave .been informed that a protracted correspondence between the Ministers in .St. PeorsWg and Prittse Alexieff showed -,a great divergence of opnion. Had the^Vioeroy's views prevailed Japan's demands would have been rejected. Rumours that, these had bten rejected had caused a dangerous tension of feeiing-^-only dispelled by the receipt of the actual reply. This, it is understood, is conciliatory in tone; - The Japanese Minister' in- London, Viscount Hayashi, however,- iq tbe course of an interview'laat night s'atd tjjie period of suspense was over so far as Japan was concerned. It wag now Russia's torn (o watt. > The situation- was undoubtedly grave,' though he could not st&y it. was entirely hopeless. ' ■ '