New-York tribune., 1872-09-28
THE COOLIE TRADE.
THE QUESTION UNDER DISCUSSION IN
JAPAN.


TJyFE-INTERFERENCB OF TIE AMERICAN
MINISTER IN FAYoB or TIE CAfIAiN VI
THE VESSEL.
fypoN TBy REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TnB TRIBUNE
YHpo. Aug. 22-Within the past few weeks
se1tes of events has occurred In this Immediate ncgh
borhood which only certain to attract conslaera
bio attention in all parts OF the civilized world but
which must inevitably for reasons which will be pain
fully obvious produce peculiar and unwclcomo sensa-
tlon in America Inasmuch they will be the occasion
OF diplomatic discussion in which scYcrai ma
tions may 10 involved, and as tho oniciai repre-
seniatiyos OF tho United States arc concerned IN
manner which cannot fail to bo DO rgidly scrutinzed'
shall endoavor to submit in simple and consecutive
foIm ns possible complete record OF The trarsacton'
omitting no essential detail and especially avoiding the
expression OF single opinion upon any OF the proceeu
ingsin which either the Japanese authorities or tho mem-
bers OF foreign legations have thus far engaged.
ARRIVAL OF A PERUVIAN VESSEL AT YOKOHAMA.
About six weeks ago Peruvian bark, tho Maria LUZ
entered the harbor OF Yokohama In distress Between
tbo OF japan and Peru treaty exists ana
no notice was taken Of her arrival by the native oca9
without any delay tho captain, WHO claims 10 Oc anu
undoubtedly IS, lieutenant IN the Peruvian navy cano
on shore and visited tho Office Of the United states LeS
tion at time occupied by Mr. Shepard as Cnarso
dAGaires in tho absence OF Dir. DeLODg tho Mnister'
He reprcsened that he was conveying somo 200 or go
Chinese Coolies from Macao TO his own country, anu t"'
lie mad been but few weeks. during Whcn ''no
be had suffered severely from storms and had nhay poe
compelled to put into the port Of Yokohama ior shoer
and repairs He claimed the strength OF lnsructohs
which he knew had been sent two years ago by inc Se
Deparmen at Washib gon TO the United States Minister
in Japan Le assistance, and, in case OF need the pro-
lection Of our representative In this Empire III Is un
deniabe that Instructions in regard to Peruvian SUBJECTS
were transmitted by the State Department. as ciahcu
by the captain of tho Maria Luz They were Droi anu
of general character. They stated that an application
adc Inv he
our Goyernment showing the absence OF diplomatic re-
latons between that nation and China ana Japan anu
asking that the Ministers Of the United States Id these
countries directed TO act upon OCCASION Tor PERUVIAN
citizens Requests Of this kind are not uncommon ana
Mr. DeIoDg was accordingly instructed to anord sucn
assistance whenever required, should not conflict
with his duties as Envoy OF the United States But as
Peru holds no intercourse with Japan and as the ony
circumstances under which any contact between the two
nations likely to precisely those which have
now arsen it is not remarkable that no claim has hth
ertO been presented TO tho notice OF the Legation
ACTION OF THE AMERICAN CHARGE DAFFAREs.
The answer Of Mr.. Shepard was short. He told the
captain or lieutenant Of the Peruvian navy, that, If he
bad como TO Japan uDon amy legitimate orrand' no
would gladly have aided him TO the extent of his power
but as no was, upon his showing engaged In talhc
which the laws OF the United States recognize ony to
condemn the order of the Department clearly
inappllcabe The Charge dAGar6s, therefore, refused
to acknowledge the captain in any manner and short
time afterward. found it expedient to inform the
japanese Foreign Department Of bis action For similar
reasons permission enter the vessel upon the books
of the United States Consulate withheld No obec-
tion however was made by the Yokohama authorities TO
the repairing Of the damages. and for time 1t seemed
possible that she might finish her rctng and proceed
upon her voyage without moestation. whether, at
matters then stood she would would not have been
suffered to depart has not yet appeared 1t is stated by
the japanese that they avoided all demonstrations as
he ts1t on o IL
port all the available ships being in attendance upon
the Mkado the South and therefore not being for the
moment, in a position to enforce any vigorous
demands. Unexpected circumstances, however,
rendered IL necessary that some measures
should be taken, even without the delay
which they desired for complete preparation. China
man one plight discovered swimming alongside an
English Ship in tho harboT. lie was taken on board
greatly exhausted and presently discovered 10 have
Jumped the deck of the Maria Luz, and risked his
life for the chance Of escaping from the control OF the
Peruvian captain. his complaints pitiable. Ac
cordlng to his story he, with the other 200 and odd
coolies had been subjected such excesses of cruelty
that he would rather die than return, and his COM
panions only restrained y constant vigilance and
force from escaping he had DONE His appeal for pro-
lection was reported TO Mr. Watson, the British Charge
d'Afaires, who Immediately sent communication to
the japanese Government, urging thorough invesuga-
ton of the case In this request he was Joined by Mr.
Shepard.
DETENTION OF THE VESSEL BY THE JAPANESE AUrHoEI-
Up to this time little public attention has been given to
the subject, and. fact the presence OF coolie ship
was known comparatively few persons but the in
dienatlon aroused by the discovery. and by the dis
closures Of the poor wretch who had attempted 10
cape and who 1t appeared had been brutaly punished
on being returned to the Maria Luz, was swift and
universal without waiting for the arrival Of their iron
eads the japanese took possession OF the bark
oveI rio an eYou
tion as the circumstances would allow. Several men
were carried on shore and being questioned by the
Governor Of Kanagawa, testified with absolute
nimy that their the Maria Luz had been
worse than death Them and that they ready to
suffer any torture that could be inflicted rather than pro-
ceed on the voyage Many Of them asserted that they
had been kidnapped outright Others that they had been
ured on board by false representations and forcibly
detained; few admitted having signed contracts
on Shore but declared that pledge by which they
had been persuaded do had been violated from the
moment they set foot ON board The Captain, on his
sde offered evidence TO show that he had complied with
all the legal requirements Of his government and OF
the Portuguese port of Macao, produced complete
file Of contracts, purporting be signed by the emf
grants With regard to- the latter, number Of the
Chinese ayerred that they had been compelled to
sign or rather to make their marks by direct com
pulson. one declared that his finger had been
pushed into an inkstand, and then jammed down upon
the paper and TO the probable truth Of this the sheet
itself bore witness 1t Is unnecessary TO repeat the de
tails Of this preliminary evidence. The result a de-
termination the part Of the Governor TO hold the ship
under still strlcter surveillance, aud to send TO the
FOBeign Olce at Yedo for fuller counsel and more
else Instructions the case having assumed magnitude
with which be was unwilling TO deal singly.
OFFICIAL INSPECTION.
Meanwhile the Maria Luz had been visited by many
persors chiefly IN official character aud subjected to
inspections which the captain, Hereiro moodily
presided The reports brought back by some Of these
1,l .Ffaah