Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-23
PEACETERMS SOUGHT
Importance Of the Chinese Customs
Commissioners Mission.
4 THIRD ARMY LEAVES FOR CHINA
English War Officials on Japan's
Snubbing America.
WHAT is SAID II E r E

LONDON, November 23.-The English
newspapers attach great Importance to the
mission of De Ting, the commissioner of
imperial customs at Tien-Tsin, who, as
exclusively cabled to the Associated Press
yesterday afternoon, has left China for
japan In order to arrange terms of peace.
The Globe this afternoon, commenting
upon De Tings departure for Japan, says
that 1t confirms the reported rejection of
the mediation of the United States. The
Globe says that this was the course to be
expected ''in spite of the Washington re-
ports that the negotiations would be con-
Quoted by the American minister at To-
kio"
The Daily News, referring to the same
subject, says:
The peace commissioner was not sent 4
moment too soon. But he can hardly hope
to reach Japan before the japanese forces
close up on Port Arthur for the last de-
cisive struggle"
The rumors which have reached here
from Washington to the effect that Great
Britain is supporting or cooperating with
the United States in the attempt being
made TO mediate between China and Japan
are declared in official circles here to be
altogether incorrect.
The United States government is under
stood TO have acted entirely upon its own
initiative and with complete independence
OF the powers. On the contrary, England
has noted the rebuff sustained by the Unit
ed States with positive delight. The for
eign office is not displeased to see the init
ed states fail after Great Britain'S snub-
blns in a similar attempt. The present at
titude of England in regard to the war De-
tween China and Japan is one of complete
inacuon. She is awaiting developments, es-
peciaily as advice5 have been received from
Japan which show that she is not likely to
listen to any peace overtures at the present,
as she is prepared to carry on winter
campaign.
Another Japanese Loan.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, November 23-The
minister Of finance has announced a fur
ther war loan of 5OO0O,O0O yen in fives,
making S0,OOo,0O0 yen of the 1Oo,OOO,OOO yen
authorized by parliament to be raised for
war purposes.
The third army has left Ujina on board
OF the transports. The destination of this
army is not known; but IL is rumored that
1t is intended to operate in the Yang Use
kiang districts of China.
HIROSHIMA, November 23.-A steamer
which has arrived here from Moi reports
that no assaults had been made upon Port
Arthur up to November 10. Two inter-
prefers and one war correspondent, who
were following the second japanese army,
have been captured and killed by the
Chinese.
LONDON, November 23.-A dispatch to
the Times from Shanghai says that the ef-
forts of foreigners to reach the Chinese
wounded meet with small success. The
wounded Chinese mostly remain at Simen-
ting, between New-Chang and Moukden,
the state OF the country preventing the
Chinese medical staff and the foreign vol
unteers from proceeding there. Wounded
straeglers have reached Moukden and
New. Chang, and some of them have even
reached Tien-Tsin, where they have been
attended to. But no succor has reached
the main body of the Chinese wounded.
All the foreigners have left Moukden.
A portion of the read between Tien-Tsin
and Pekin is occupied by Hounaneze
troops, and this locality is becoming un-
pleasant for travellers.
Cold weather is setting in.
The Catholic fathers remain at their sta
tons In Manchuria, but, the Times dis
patch adds, the Professionals have returned.
The latter report that the Chinese soldiers
Fought much more stubbornly under Gen.
Sung, and they add that If the Chinese
had good leaders they would certainly re-
pei the Japanese.
Officials and Diplomats Amused
The cable advices stating that the Brit
ish officials are delighted with the re-
buff sustained by the United States in
Japan's rejection of mediation cause much
amusement among the officials and diplo-
mats here who are familiar with the facts.
While the British version that the United
States acted entirely alone in it's Offer and
without the cooperation of Great Britain,
is literally true, yet 1t is also known that
her majesty's government for trade or
commercial reasons heartily desired the
success OF the movement, as 1t was feared
a continuance of the war might affect
British commercial interests in the east
disastrouSly.
From the outset of the negotiations
Great Britain has shown the greatest
irfx- hntr tha fat.v,, ,t,,nt. a a,l
the foreign office has twice submitted
formal requests that the United States
join Great Britain in Intervention. The
United States declined all overtures from
England, but at the request of China made
the independent offer of mediation. The
request coming from China, and being In
the interest of Great Britain's policy OF
preserving China, was known to have the
neral support of her majestys govern
ment even if it lacked the open co-opera-
ton of the foreign office, which would have
been unacceptable to this government II
1t involved any entangling alliances. ANY
delight which British officials may express
at Japan's snubbing the United States is
attributable to personal reasons, and not
to the failure OF the oDJect Great Brltain
has earnestly sought.
The latest phase of the controversy, in
the departure of China's minister OF Gus
toms for Japan to arrange terms OF peace,
further assures the officials here that China
has embraced the peace policy along the
lines openly proposed by the United States
and covertly desired by Great Britain. 1t
is regarded as natural that English diplo-
natists should prefer that their ultimate
aim-peace-should be achieved with
little distinction as possible for the United
States as the mediator.
But there is another and very good rea-
son why any expression of delight at the
snubbing of the United States is entirely
out of place at this point, and that is as
explained by State Department officials,
that the United States has not been snub-
bed at all. The reply of the japanese gov
ernment to overtureS was extremely
courteous in expression and in spirit, and
it did not by any means amount to re-
lection.
On the contrary, 1t pointed out way in
which the United States could assist in re-
storing peace If China should be in the
proper frame of mind. That was by au-
thorizing our ministers in Japan and China
to receive and transmit peace proposals.
This authority has been conferred, and the
United States government is really In the
place of mediator, with the consent of
the JapaneSe government