from the St. Petersbary "Slovo" of the The Japan reprint the followin,
9th of July last, and it. is well. worth preservation as a document of use when the story is repeated that Japan forced on the war by unfair means "The 'Slovo' to-day finally di: the legend that Japan precipitated the war by intercepting s telegram from Adeiefl to Baron 'Rosen. where. by Russia gave way on the vital question of a buffer State between Man-thurio and Corea, Official documents are cited. The 'Slovo' states that Baron Komura, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, telegraphed to Mr Kurino, the Japanese Minister at St, Peterstiurg, in the afternoon of February 5th, instructing him to break off negotiationa...A few hours later Baron Komura Lelogram y Mr. Kurino reporting that the Russian reply had been sent to Admiral Alexeieff on the previous evening for transmission to Baron Rosen, Allowing for the difference of time between St. Petersburg and Tokio, and for the time for retransmission from Port Arthur, the telegram could not possibly have the ground, but the 'Slovo' goes further and shows why Japanese patience, after enduring repeated vexatious delays durin ix months of noyotiations, suddenly faile atthe moment when an agreement seemed assured. Here is the explanation, which is illustrative of Russian bureaucratic methods.
"It will be remembered that the terms of Russia's final reply were drafted at a meeting held on January 28th under the Grand Duke Alexis, at which Count Lams-dorf, General Sakharoff, and Admirals Avellan and Abasa were present All with the exception of Admiral Abssa agreed to waive ussia's demand for a buffer; B. Bode State. Admiral Abasa presented a minority report, which, together with, the draft approved by his colleagues, was submitted to the Emperor four days later. Meanwhile, Count Lamsdorff, not knowing whether the Emperor would approve the opinion of Admiral Abssa or that of the majority, declined to give Mr. Kurino any information. On the other hand, Admiral Abssa entered into communication with Mr. Kurino, and, before. the Emperor could decide, gave the Japanese Minister his own version of the reply, and Mr, Kuriuo promptly communicated it to Tokio, Admiral Abasa's position as manager of affairs in the Committee of the Far East and as @ person enjoying great influence at Court satisfied the Japanese that Sei he rightly interpreted the views of his Government and that Russia's reply was a refusal. Nevertheless, the Japanese waited two or three days more before breaking off negotiations."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.