The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-24
J e = a NJ .
Diplomatic Combinations in the Relations
Towards COrea and FCrmOSa.
American Official Advice-What the AgricHl-
tural Commission Has Accomplished-Cour
Projects and Long Tail Coats-Industrial
Enterprise Genuine Woolly
Horses for Vienna-The Ca!en-
dar Of limo Changed-The
Mission TO Washington

i
| The Corean matter seems to be clearing up
little. Hannabussa has at last returned, and is in
Jeddo He reports that every thing between CQrea
and Japan is on friendly footing: that he went
there with lot OF rice. having heard that that artl
| Gle was extremely scarce in that country. but on
his arrival at COrea he found that rice was cheaper
| there than in Japan, hence he brought his cargo
| back The Coreans also paid to Hannabussa sum
OF money due to the Japanese at Yussima. and the
Japanese Ambassador claims that his mission was
perfect success. All this story looks plausible
the face OF it, The probabilities are that Japan,
being unprepared Tor war, has, by humility and
submission, averted war for the present. But
hostilites must sooner or later take place between
the two countries, for the facts remain that Japan
has been nsulted by the COrean government
and all intercourse between the two coun
tries is at an end. The FOrmosa affair Is also
attracting the attention OF the government. They
are anxious to avoid h0stilities At nrst 1t was
supposed that naval expedition was to be sent to
that island to punish the barbarOus inhabitants
thereof for their cruel treatment OF some ship
wrecked Japanese who were recently cast away on
their inhospitable shores. l have ascertained be-
yond reasonable doubt that thew have sought the
counsel OF the American Minister in this matter,
and that Mr.. De Long has helped them
A few months ago General LIE Gendre, late United
States Consul at Annoy, arrived in Japan on his
way home But he has remained in Japan ever
since. He happened to arrive here about the same
time that this Formosan difficulty was first made
known General lie Gendre has. as Consul at
Annoy, had some experience OF FOrmosa. About
three years ago the barbarans had COM
mitted depredatons and rObberies on some
foreign residents there The General was
appealed to, and he took the gunbOat
Ashueot and event for" the heathens. lie has the
reputation Of knowing more about the island than
any one else out here. Hence, when he remained
in JeddO, in daily consultation with Japanese OIL
GERS 1t was reported that the General was TO be
entrusted with an expedition to FOrnlosa. The
Generals conduct rather sustained this suspicion.
He keeps himself exceedingly close, refusing to
a single foreign resident, except Mr. De Long. Now
tnat there is something in the wind, and some i'm
portant move on the taps In which 1t will be found
that the American Minister is taking nand, am
certain and venture to predict, from signs more
trustworthy than the augures of old, that there is
piece Of diplomacy afOOt which is intended to have
the effect of getting Japan out Of considerable
difficulty.
1t will be remembered that in the early part OF
this year a Japanese Ambassador was sent to China
to negotiate trcaty-a mission which only par
tally succeeded. Another mission Is to be sent to
China to congratulate the Emperor his Access
sion to the throne and to induce China to settle
this matter at FOrmosa, it being a dependency Of
the FlOwery Kingdom. or course this diplomatic
mission Will attempt to go further think 1t Is to
endeavor to arrange matters In such a way That,
| should any difficulty in the future ARISE between
| Corea and Japan, China is to bind herself to re-
main ut least neutral However, within the fol-
| lowing month this movement around which they
are endeavOring to wrap such cloak OF mystery
will be made known.
| THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The Yess0 Commission, headed by General
CaprOn, has returned from that island to winter at
Toxic. The results OF the Summer lahors OF this
|
probably as much as could reasonably be expected.
The TACT is that scant justice has been done to
General CaprOn IN the reports that have been sent
| home concerning him and his dOings In Japan.
He has had great difficulties to contend with, from
the TACT that the Japanese although seemingly
anxious to employ foreign aid, insufferably
vain that they imagine they can learn in a few
months all that any foreigner can teach them.
good many things have been attributed to General
CaprOn that he IS by no means responsible for.
But In those matters wherein ms ADVICE mas been
taken and acted upon, fair success has followed.
Another thing that initiated against the complete
success OF the mission Is that almost Immediately
upon its arrival in Japan the subordinate members
OF the mission commenced to wrangle and intrigue
for higher salaries. In this matter General Capron
is undoubtedly at fault, for had he been firm and
insisted upon these men fulfilling their contracts,
instead OF yielding to them, ne would have avoided
| a great deal OF trouble. However, the commission
nave done something. They have demonstrated the
practcaDity OF bringing the northern island under
cultivation They have introduced into Japan
| several foreign grasses and cereals, and proved
that the soil Is capable OF raising such. they have
introduced new stock in order to improve the
miles of first class wagon road have been built
under the superintendent OF Major Wharhe!d, the
man is at present under slight cloud, on account
OF personal dficulty that he has had with one OF
the Japanese orcers great circuit IS given TO him
NEW CALENDAR OF TIME.
On the 1st day OF January OF the ensuing year the
Japanese mode OF reckoning time Is TO give place to
the foreign. The first day OF our new year Will be
the first day OF their first month, and they then
follow the calendar as is laid down In our nautical
amanacs The time OF day, also, Is to follow our
reckoning, the DAY being divided into twenty four
hours instead OF twelve. sunday Is to be a noll-
day, all the other monthly holidays being abolished
and 1ntraot'e dtctu It has been suddenly discoy,
have been observed as holiday in Japan, but for
some unaccountable reason 1t has hitherto been
neglected. Hereafter 1t Is to be noted as great
DAY, and is to be held sacred to Znmu, the first
Emperor OF Japan. The manner OF reckoning the
have been numbered from the reignng monarch !;
Tor instance this being the sixth year, Meji But
hereafter this is to be dropped. The coming year
Will be $685. probably dating from the supposed
founding OF the Japanese Empire
DuBBiNG KNIGHTS AND LoNG-TAILED COATS.
Other changes are also to come in with the new
year. orders OF knighthood for both civil and mill
tary officers are to be instituted. All persons are
to DE forbidden to wear their hair in the Old Jap
anese fashion. Foreign style of clothing is to be
recommended, and an order has already been
issued designating the civil officers evening dress,
namely-back cloth clothes-coat, swallowtai!-
and stovepipe hats. Who says that Japan is not
rapidly becoming civiliZedy
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.
on the 18th OF March ensuing, another exhibition
is 10 be opened at Koto. Foreigners are to be al
lowed to exhibit and to visit the exhibition on
nearly the same terms as last year. The articles
from Japan that to figure at the Vienna EXPOSE
ton are all collected, and are now on exhibition
previous to being shipped Tor Austria. The list COM
prses all kinds OF Japanese pr0ductlons-natural
and mechanical. DIFFERENT kinds OF silks and teas
and medicines figure largely; large assortment
OF paper articles and mineral specimens, OF old
coins; OF engravngs, bronze ware and ivory VIII
also be exhibited Besides these there are two
veritable woody horses and a three-lcgged dog.
EMBASSIES.
Mr.. Yano Giro has been appointed Secretary OF
Legation at Washington. He and Uveno, the gem
tcman who Is to succeed Mori, win probably leave
Japan on the January steamer Tina appointment
issued to Nakayama as Consul General to the
United states has been recalled, t.at gentleman