The " Novoe Vremya" of 21st October has the following article on the present "The Russian newspapers of the Far East and the European Press published in the same quarter say that a period of has mado its appearance in Russo-Japanese relations and that a serious conflict between the two Powers is now out of the question, though at one time it seemed possible enough.
"We are very glad to hear such nows, nevertheless the important question of the preservation of peace cannot be lightly disposed of, and we cannot therefore unfortunately receive as gospel the cheerful information in question. The Press of the Far East teils us to-da; that there will be no war; yesterday it told us that war was unavoidable; tomorrow perhaps it will again assure us we must inevitably come into col-with Japan. But on what foundation are all these rumours,—past, present and future,—based? Evidently on the prevalent tone of the Japanese news-Papers. These papers bogan by crying out that it was necessary to make war on us, and everybody began to talk about the crisis; after a while those cries decreased atid everybody began to feel comfortable and to affirm that the danger of war was minimised.
The Japanese Press Inaccurate.
©To attach such importance to the Japanese Pres would not be oxtraordinary if that Press were always a model of accuracy and famous for its faithful expression of the views of its Government. Butt cannot be said tat the Pros of any country is a faithful exponent of the views of its Government. It certainly cannot be said of the Japanese Presi, which is to a large extent subsidised by the English and the Americans. Japanese papers' are sometimes in fact edited dlivwole by representatives of these "On this account there is no need to be alarmed to any particular extent by the furious oxthunsts of the Japanase Press, or to be lulled into security by its optimistic predictions. One must ¢stimate for himself how matters stand in the For East, especially when there is anything serious the matter there, and must not aflow himself to be influence! by the tone of the Japanese newspapers.
Relations Strained.
"It would be mere affectation on our part to deny that our relations with Japan are rather strained at present. They have been strained for some time past although there was no egressive action on our side which might be re garded as having brought about this estrangenient. At all events Japan pushed on the warlike preparations of her fleet which she sent to maneuvre in the Straits of Corea, and which alw stationed in a line from the island of Kargodo to the islands of Tsushima and Kiushiu. Soldiers were placed on board her transports and brought to Masampho. This was done by way of transport cxraise of course. The men were not landed but returned to the island of Tsushima.
"We just mention this little fact to give the reader an idea of the acts which Are accountable for the present crisis in the Far East.
"There is a wide intercal of-course tween such acts and an actual collision. A demonstration carried out by a fleet is compara cheap performance, Porwers whic possess a strony fleet are not averse to showing it off, es if by doing so they thin they pressure to bear on No Effect on Russia, "But this demonstration will have effect on Russia, i.e. it will not make us tov yielding in our relations with the Japanese. "Lhe object we have in view in the Far East is the development prosperity of our frontiers, and to a don this object, that is, otherwise ep ing, to abandon all measures for the lavful defence of our interests we do not desire to do and we cannot do. We do net know if the Japanese are aware of this. but at all events the warlike pro rations of Japan do not decrease; on the contrary they ave beng carried on ith redoubled energy. This is a more portant fact, in our opinion, than the change in the tone of the Japanese Pross. The Press may write in a peaceful strain but, meanwhile, the Japanese Gorernment has given orders for all.its mili officers at prevent travelling or study in foreign countries to return at once 10 the Fatherland. The firm of Krupp of Essen has just received from the Japanese Government a telegram asking them to make haste to fulfil certain orders previously placed with them. Coal for the use of the fleet is also being bought in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.