It is pretty clear that, as was the ease on the occasion of the North Sea Enquiry at Paris, Russia has taken effectual means to get her: view of the progress and prospects of the negotia. tions placed before the world. Some of the Japanese journals, in drawing attention to the extent to which the Muscovite 4 Envoys appear to have dominated the proceedings at Portsmouth, are disposed to blame Baron Komura for t] to of affairs. After noting the success of the Russians in getting their side of the case presented in the Press, and deploring what it considers to have been the too passive attitude adopted by the Japanese Plenipotentiaries at the Conference, a secondary paper here expresses the fear that Japan's diplomacy is very inferior to itary resources, Such a view as this is considered by an English paper in Kobe both unfair end premature, M.de Witte and colleagues have, it is true, played a more showy role than the Japanese Commission, but it soams probable that this country will be found in the end to have gained more from the correct and dignified attitude of her representatives thin can have been lost through the temporarily greater impros-ion which has possibly been made by her al's champions.
India and the Middle East, Lord Curzon's resignation is much regretted here, A recent leader printed Russi os in India, though they by the "Kokumin" deliberately illustrated abeyance while she was in Russia's frame of mind cannot be gauged from a rational standpoint, and some attempts upon India by Musco: vires are not absolutely impossible, But in that case, Russin would be compelled to attack Eastern Asin as well as Central Asia, This guarded article apparently refers to the inclusion of India in the new Treity of Anglo-Japanese Alliance. In subsequent article, the semi-official journal stated that Russia's defeat in the is affecting her prestige in Asia west of India as well as in the Extreme Orient, According to a recent advice, the Sublime Porte has suddenly commenced to re-construct the Wosphorus battery and placed a few big guns thereon. This has bets: explained as a preosutionary measure against the Black Sea mutiny, but it goes without saying that Tarkey. realised her coveted desire, availing herself of Russia's declining influence. The Amir of Afghanistan kas been an ardent admirer of Russia But thanks to the successive disasters of Russia, the Amir and his pro-Russian Ministers have become powerless and the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.