THE EASTERN CRISIS

West Coast Times, Issue 13091, 23 January 1904, Page 2

THE EASTERN CRISIS

A PEA.CEFULL SETTLEMENT

ANTICIPATED.

London, Jan 22

An influential diplomatist at St Petersburg, declares that Russia is sending fresh proposals to prolong the negotiations at let-st another week,

Eight thousand soldiers left Port Arthur, and are believed to be proceeding to Ydlu.

The Standard's Tokio correspondent states the Czar's words to the Kanno were not so entirely pacific and satisfactory as represented in Europe.

The Times Tokio correspondent says; the Privy Council will adopt a draft urgency ordinance relating to maritime defences, railway transport, troops organisation and fielJ postal service.

A Reucer message states the authorities at Seoul in reply to a complaint that Korean sokiera were causing trouble in Korea, informed Pavloff that Russia was not entitled to interfere on Koreau frontier affair?.

(Received Jan 22 at 10.26 p.m)

Londok, Jan 22

The reports received in London and Berlin from Tokio sta.te that a peaceful settlement is approaching.

Japanese stocks at Tokio have improved.

Advices from a trustworthy source received in London state that Russia has practically acquiesced with Japan's view regarding Korea's sovereignty and integrity.

Japan insists on an unequivocal Russian assurance of recognition of China's sovereignty and Russia agrees to give an assurance, but Japan demands a written agreement and the possible reduction of the Russian fleet in the Far East.

The Labour members and several other Commoner-!, Frederic Harrison, Canon Scott, Holland Stead, Hall Came, George Meredith and others telegraphed to the Czir and Mikado yesterday, petitioning them to subro.it their disputes to the Hague Arbitration Tribunal.

Morrison states that Russia has 3,115 officers, 147,479 men and 368 guns eastwards of Lake Baikal.

A message from Moscow to the Times says the Grand Duke Vladimer Alexandrovitch and Serg, Commanders respectively of St Petersburg and Moscow division 0 , are strongly supporting Alexieff, while the Czi>\ though anxious to avoid war, is dow wavering.