St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-21
W HY JAP IRE is UP.
Official Correspondence That Led
to the War.

Official Correspondence That Led
to the War.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-The Jap
anese government has anticipated the
receut offers of China to the foreign
powers to furnish the complete official
correspondence leading UP to the pres
ent war, and has itself made public this
correspondence. 1t is published in full
as part Of the recent proceedings of
the Japanese diet which have been re-
ceived by the Japanese legation here.
The gist of the controversy has already
been made known to the public, but the
official letters between China and Japan
give the first account of the sharp dip
lomatic fencing between the countries
up to a few days before the war. The
letters run from June 7th to July 14th,
and are numbered from one to nine.
No. is from Wang, Chinese minister
TO Japan. 1t informs Japan that tele-
gram has been just received from Ii
Hung Chang stating that the COrean
government has requested China to
send troops to suppress rebellion OF
tine Tong Haks. Viceroy Ii, it says, con-
Siders the rebellion serious, and there
fore complies with the request for
troops to protect ''Our tributary state"
first notifying Japan in accordance with
treaty provision That each shall inform
the other before entering Corea.
No is from Mutsu. minister of for
eign affairs of Japan. 1t very pOintedly
states: "ln reply. beg to declare that,
although the words tributary state ap-
pear in your note, the Japanese govern
ment has never recognized Corea as a
tributary state of China"
No. is notice from the Japanese
government that it intends sending
troops to Corea to suppress the re-
belliOn.
In No. 4. China "shows her teeth" for
the first time. 1t is a letter from Tsung-
Lily amen, the Chinese cabinet. to the
Japanese minister at Pekin. The let
ter expresses surprise that Japan should
send troops to Corea when 1t has not
been SO requested by Corea. 1t adds
the following significant language:
1.-The sole object of your country in
sending troops Is evidently to protect
the legation, cOnsulateS and commercial
people in COrea and consequently it
may not be necessary OH the part of
your country to dispatch great num-
Der of troops. and besides. as no ap-
plication therefor has been made by
Corea, it is requested that no troops
shall proceed to the interior of C0rea SO
that they may not cause alarm to- her
people. And, moreover, since it is
feared that in the event the soldiers of
the two nations should meet oil the
way, cases OF unexpected accidents
might occur owing to the difference Of
language and military etiquette, we beg
to request III addition that you will be
good enough to telegraph the purpOrt
of this communication to the govern
ment of Japan"
No. is Jagan's answer to the TSung-
Li-Yamen, i'll which Japan also shows
her teeth. 1t says: LAS to the number
of troops to be sent to Corea the Japan
ese government Is compelled to eXer-
else its own judgment. Although no
restriction is placed upon the move
ment of the Japanese troops III Corea,
they will not be sent where their pres.
ence Is not deemed necessary. The
Japanese troops are under strict dis
cipline, and the Japanese government
is confident that they will not precipi-
tate collision with the Chinese forces.
1t is hoped that China has adopted sim
liar precautions"
No. is all offer of the Japanese gov
ernment to join China in general read
juStment of Corea on modern lines.
No. z is China's rejection of the offer,
in which she says: 1.-The idea may be
excellent. but the measures of improve.
ment must be left to Corea herself"
No. Is from Japan to China. stating
that Japan can no longer disregard the
law of preservation which impes
her to reform the deplorable conditions
of Corea at the root OF her frequent re-
bellions.
No. 8 is also from Japan to China.
stating that as China has declined to
join in the administrative reform Of
Corea, the only conclusion deductable
is that the Chinese government 'is dis
posed to precipitate complications"
This closes the correspondence, the
last letter being dated eleven days be-
fore Japan sank the Chinese transport
Kow- -Shing, carrying the Chinese troops
TO Corea. Japan's decalratiOn of war
foIlnvvad siy d4vS later