Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03
GRESHAMpS CLEVER COUP.
How He Worked the New Treaty Will
the japanese Minister.

GREsHAM'S CLEVER COUP.
How He Worked the New Treaty With
the Japanese Minister.
From the Chicago Herald.
There is q good deal of gossip in diplo-
matte circles about the able manner in
which Secretary Gresham used the treaty
just completed between this country and
Japan a lever with which to pull the
victor of the war in the east toward peace.
When he came here a few months ago Mr..
kurino, the Japanese minister, told his
friends his great ambition was to con-
clude a treaty with the United States. His
predecessor had attempted one, but failed,
and Mr.. kurino, who is nothing If not am
bilious. had a national desire to succeed
where Mr.. Tateno had accomplished moth
ing. The Japanese have recently concluded
a new treaty with England and Mr.. Ku-
rino, who is a good deal of diplomatist
himself, constantly dinged in the ears of
the State Department officials that this
country could not afford to lag behind
England. AS the story is told, there was
but one point of controversy in making the
new treaty about which this government
cared straw, and that was the PROPOSE
ton to establish by treaty a reciprocal
right OF residence for business purposes.
Ihat meant the importation of Japanese
coolies to America, and the United States
would not agree to such clause. AS soon
as this point had been settled by Japan
yielding her contention there was nothing
left to dispute about. The treaty con-
cluded with England was the model used
in the negotiation and there was nothing
in 1t which Mr.. Gresham could object to.
But the diplomatic gossipers say he kept
poor kurino on the tenter hooks for about
three weeks, Directing to this and that,
and all the time slyly sounding the Japa
nese representative as to his views of the
war in the east. Gresham had so often
told kurino that the treaty made with
England would not suit the United States
that at last the little Japanese, with his
face picture OF despair, asked Gresham
to tell him, If he could, what would be
satisfactory. This was the moment Ores
ham had been waiting for.
He began by praising the advance which
the japanese had made in the art of war
and of government. He complmented the
efforts which they have recently made to
codify their laws and establish a system
of Jurisprudence and courts modelled after
the English and American systems. He
spoke of Japan's rise in few decades
from one of the minor, semibarbarous
powers to a high rank in the family Of
nations. All this time the minister was
sitting on the edge of his chair, eagerly
deVouring every one Of these words which
were like music in his cars. But this was
nothing compared with that which fol-
lowed. You have just completed a new
treaty with England" the gossipers rep
resent Gresham as saying; I'VE don't like
that treaty and don't propose to initiate
1t, because 1t treats you as a nation of
minor Importance. because 1t looks down
upon you as a child among nations while
you have risen to the estate of manhood.
If We treat with you at all ii must be as
an equal, as our peer in the great family
Of nations" At these words my infor-
mant says, the little Japanese came near
falling off his chair. He was so delighted
that he SCARCELY knew what TO II SuCh
q treaty were concluded 1t would be the
first time his country has ever been recog
nized as the equal of one of the first-class
powers. He could easily foresee the de-
light which this intelligence would produce
at TOXIC and he could, without any great
stretch of Imagination, see himself a IA
vorite diplomatist and perhaps wearing
on his breast one of the mikado's choicest
decorations.
Caused Great Delight in Japan.
"Well, the treaty was concluded on this
basis and has been duly signed and copies
transmitted. The japanese government
was informed by cable Of its provisions and
Of the spirit which actuated the United
States and the delight of the Japanese
minister of foreign affairs, Mr.. Mutsu who
was once minister to Washington himself
found expression in a cablegram of con-
CALCULATIONS to Kurino, and warm thanks
to Cleveland and Gresham. The new treaty
though so eminently satisfactory to the
Japanese, is good one for the United
States. 1t will be surprising, considering
it's terms and the warm friendship that
has sprung up between the two govern
ments, If 1t does not promote trade be-
tween the United States and Japan. The
Japanese have not developed their govern
ment to a point where they have q tariff
schedule. Though they have a parliament,
they have never had the luxury Of q tariff
bill Their customs duties are levied solely
f1~ ND vnd fraIx, b,,
treaty. When they need additional revenue
they find themselves unable to raise it
without negotiating new treaties. In the
treaty just concluded with England the
customs duties on British importations are
fixed from to Is per cent and Secretary
Gresham pointed out to Kurno that the
power to levy and to change the rate Of
duties on imports was sovereign power
and should be exercised by law, as Eng
land, France, Germany and the United
States exercised it and not by treaty. This
was one of the important particulars In
which the United States treated Japan as
an equal for In the treaty recently signed
there Is no mention of customs duties on
importations from the United States Japan
being left free to fix and to change from
time to time those duties precisely as the
United States fixes her duties on importa-
lions from Japan. Though this manner Of
recognizing japan as a full-grown nation
was in striking contrast with England's
method, Gresham was thoughtful enough
so 1t Is said, to see that the favored ma
ton clause was Inserted. by whose terms
Japan cannot charge higher rates Of duty
on American goods than she charges on
any other importations of a similar char
acter. The members Of the diplomatic
corps say Gresham has by these means
completely undermined England in the af-
fections of the japanese. By paying them
this great compliment, which cost moth
ing, he won their confidence and friend
ship and paved the way for peace between
China and Japan on terms honorable to
both and sure to add to the prestige Of the