The two Chauvinist leaders in Russia, the Grand-Duke Alexander and M. Bezobrazoff, have been lately absent from St. Petersburg, but divided counsels still prevail there and cause the Tokio statesmen to maintain pessimistic views. Prince Alexander has been staying in France on account "of the indisposition of his father and M. Bezobrazoff at Genon. The latter was expected to leave the Italian town toward the close of January. The two leaders have not been banished, as rumoured, but wont abroad with Imperial sanction.
The Stock Exchange Fluttered, Owing to the publication to-day Renter's dispatch forecasting the climbing down of Russia in consequence of the newly-acquired preponderance of the peace party. share quotations went up rather remarkably. It is not the first time these pleasing inventions have deceived speculators.
A Sensible The semi-official Kokumin" of the 22nd published whit was apparently an inspired article, headed Protector of Corea." It pointed out that Japan fought China in 1894 to secure Corea's autonomy and that the Tokio Government is still anxious that that autonomy be maintained. Russia, on the other hand, has recently proposed the partition of the peninsula, therefore it would be obviously better for Corea to rely exclusively on Japan. The Corean Government has announced its strict neutrality. This is regarded by the "Japan Times" as the result of a recent visit of Hyon Sang-kou to St. Petersburg und Port Arthur, but that paper goes on to say that whatever Corea may do will not affect Japan's moral and legal right to protect her interests in the peninsula.
The Chartering of Transports.
At a general meeting on the 22nd inst. of the shareholders of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, the president remarked that among 40 transports chartered by the government three large and nine small steamers belonging to their Company had been taken up. Some companies had already been compelled to suspend their foreign service, but over 30 liners of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha were stil] running.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.