"Tyre resources of diplomacy are not yet exhausted." This is the best comfort that our well-informed Tokio correspondent can give us, Japan wanted a categorical answer from Russia to her lowest acceptable terms, and the answer received is one conceding certain minor points and suggesting further haggling. Weneed not repeat the telegrams received last night from our correspondents at Kobe and Tokio, as they may be read in another column. They reiterate that Japan is absolutely determined not to yield an inch; and, as one of our Reuter's telegrams shows, this situation is understood in London.
It must be remembered that it is very nearly six months since Japan 29 decided on the position she would take and from which she would not recede. It was on the 23rd and 24th of June last that the five Elder Statesmen—the makers of modern Tapan,—Marquis Ito, Marquis Yamagata, Marquis Oyama, Count Inouye, and Count Matsukata, had their all-important conferences in the Emperor's presence with Count Katsura, the Premier, Baron Yamamoto, the Minister of the Navy, Baron Komura, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and General Terauchi, the Minister of War. It was understood that Marquis Ito and Count Inouye went into these conferences opposed to any drastic measures being adopted; but,{the result of the discussion and of the arguments brought forward by the Cabinet Ministers was to bring them over to the latter's views, We take from the "Japan Gazette" of the 24th of June the following account of the views.at the time of the leading native journal, the "Kokumin Shimbun," whose opinions on foreign affairs have a semi-official character. The "Gazette" says:—
"Phe Tokio journal does not necessarily pretend to reveal-all that the Cabinet thinks now, but means to give, a true and incisive reflection of the national conviction, The sole opportunity of the Far Eastern problem, to wit, the Manchurian and Corean questions; has now been just reached. One dag later implies one day's loss, 'I'he loss is not only Jupan's but also Russia's and even the world's civilisation, Our esteemed contemporary declares that it does not necessarily agree with those who urge the present as a unique time for war with Russia, but what it wants is a drastic solution of the problem, War must _be avoided as much as possible, but for this reason the said solution must not be delayed. We want peace—peace properly obtained with honour, but do not only care lo see peace at any sacrifice. The solution of the question is the object, and diplomacy and arms are means. We do not wish to sacrifice the object for the means, but must be aware that for the prosecution of the object no means whatever should be avoided. Some say that Russia's expansion is inevitable? continues the paper, and at the same time Japan's expansion is inevitable, in view of the constant increase of the population in ths limited area of her land.—_If things are left to drift a striking collision between Japan and Russia will be 'a matter of course. To tactfully turn away the collision is easier at present than later. For this, frank communications between the two countries would be better and an opportunity for compromise be found. But if it is difficult, then the two Empires must enter a competition of actual force. Battles are most un-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.