RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 30

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

IDNDON, January 30. (Count Lamsdorff, Russian Foreign Minister, has intimated that Russia’s reply to the Japanese Note will he transmitted next week. Great care is being bestowed upon the drafting of the reply. Admiral Alexieff’s views are also awaited before the draft 'is finally submitted tot the Ozar. The “Times’’ Povis correspondent Bays that interviews with prominent Russians published in Paris, and utterances 'in other directions, show that Japan’s decisive attitude renders it extremely difficult to frame a , reply which shall ho neither provocative ot war* nor involve a complete surrender. The " Daily Mail’s ” Chefoo correspondent states that a Japanese warship in the vicinity of Chemulpho fired thrice across the bows of the Russian steamer Argun, bound from Nagasaki to Dalny. . . , , In response to frantic appeals by the passengers, the captain of the Argun decided to stop, but no further challenge was made. . ... French rentes have declined materially in Paris. Russian stocks have suffered heavy loss, and others are affected by a rumour circulated that Russia prohibits the export* of cereals. The decline of Russian stocks in St. Petersburg has reacted on Berlin. A Reuter despatch says that unusual activity is being displayed at Simonstown, the Cape Imperial naval station, where warships are • taking _in large supplies of coal and ammunition. Japanese mercantile house® in London have been instructed not to negotiate commercial bills at present.

A Russian military party has crossed the Korean frontier near Yalu. ' The Russians are extending the telegraph line from the mouth of the Yalu river to Port Arthur. The concentration of Cossacks on the Korean frontiers continues. - . Reports from two sources allege that Russia has refused to guarantee China’s sovereignty. Russian and Japanese stocks have fallen in London.

LONDON, January 31. In the event of war, General Kuropatkin will command the Russian land force®.

Tbe merchandise traffic on the transSiberian railway will be suspended after 2nd February, so as to leave the line free for the transport of troops and military stores.

LONDON. February 1.

The consensus of messages from St. Petersburg, Tokio and Port Arthur is that the Russian reply will be unsatisfactory to Japan. The newspapers at St. Petersburg are defiant and contentious,, and seek to throw the responsibility of the ultimate upshot on Japan. The Marquis Ito, Baron Komura and others held a conference lasting eight hours on Saturday. Russia purchased ' twenty thousand tons cf coal ait Taiping on Saturday, and is negotiating for thirty thousand tons additional, with immediate delivery at Port Arthur.

Chinese force® under Yuan-shi-kai, Commander-General, numbering forty thousand, are on the borders of Manchuria, ready for action in the event of war. »-