New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-05
TIE JAPANESE INDEMNITY.

Within the last few years it has come to be
admitted that the United States had secured
q certain influence in Japan superior, In most
respects. to that enjoyed by other Powers. Its
basis was the pacific character of our relations
with that country, and it was promoted by
the inst consideration with which we were
disposed to treat q nation anxious to emerge
from the twilight of Asiatic civilization into
the full sunshine of the Western day. In mt
ting themselves to new customs, the japanese
could think of no better example &c follow
than that of the United States. Under
these circumstances tho commercial rela-
tions of the two countries have
been prosperous, and everything has indi-
Gated the wisdom of continuing the policy
which our Government seemed to have
adopted. European Powers, on the other
hand, assumed that their interests could be
promoted best by an aggressive form OF
diplomacy. They refused to recognize the
fact that a country which was DESTROYS of
initiating their enlightened systems was likely
to resent the exercise OF any authority which
those Powers would not think of applying to
each other.
For many months negotiations have been in
progress between the japanese Government
and tho foreign representatives in Japan for
the revision of existing treaties. The Jap
anese have shown disposition to yield to
the request for the opening Of the whole
country to foreigners, upon condition that the
foreign Powers would abandon their claim to
exercise judicial functions in that country
over their own subjects. The principle of
extra territoriality, in the case of Eastern
countries, of late years has obtained
place in international law, but rather as an
exception to the general rules for regulating
international relations. There is very
direct implication that the particular Govern
ment whose territory is intended to be brought
within this jurisdiction is incapable OF just
dealing. If our Government had undertaken
to exercise a mediating influence, there is
strong reason for believing that the Japanese
Government would have accepted modlfca-
ton of the principle which would secure to
foreigners the administration of just laws, al
though depriving them of much of the license
which now prevails under the doctrine of ex-
ira territoriality.
The more pacific forms of diplomacy were
discarded by several European Powers, par
ticularly those of Great Britain and France,
Government to the desired concessions by call
ing upon it to pay an installment of an old
indemnity, which those Powers had apparently
concluded to relinquIsh. 1t is now generally
agreed that the Simonoseki indemnity, ex-
torted from Japan in the time of her weak
ness, if based on any just claim of
the foreign Powers, was greatly out
of proportion to the requirements of
the case. The Japanese Government, with
sense of dignity which would have been ad-
mirable in any one of those which recently
demanded payment of the last installment,
promptly declared its intention of iquidating
the indebtedness. The position of the United
States in this emergency was a desirable one,
for we had signifed our purpose not to ask
for the installments of our claim that are yet
unpaid. What particular enemy to our
interests has prevailed upon our Govern
ment to change its course it is diff
cult to say. The intelligence which
we publish to-day from Japan shows
that we have offended the feelings of the
Japanese, and, what is probably worse, have
injured our own influence, by demanding full
payment of the indemnity, not because we
need the money or because we are entitled to
it, but because the other Powers have de-
manded their shares just now Japan is on
the verge of war with China, and to press
a doubtful demand at such moment is GER
tainly unfriendly.