The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-02
A DIPLOMATIC MOVE.
Japan Gmbarrasses China's Efforts to
Secure Munitions of War.

WASHINGTON, Aug. IA brief cable
gram announcing the arrival of the United
States steamer Monocacy at Nagasaki,
Japan, received by Secretary Herbert to-
day, is the only official news from the seat
of war that has come to the government
here from its representatives in China and
Japan, and the surmise that official dis
patches are being obstructed purposely
now amounts to conviction. The Monocacy
was at Chemupo, Corea, with the Balti-
more, and it is supposed that she ran over
to Nagasaki for coal and supplies. 1t is
thought here that the action of Japan in
officially notifying the British government
of the existence of a state of war between
Japan and China was precipitated by the
kow Shing incident. Had such notice
preceded the sinking of the ship Japan
would not have incurred liability to Great
Britain and been obliged to apologize. In
affect that notice is equivalent to a decar-
alton OF war, or at least it imposes the
same obligations on neutral nations. The
United States, for instance, can sell to
either China or Japan arms and munitions
of war and supplies, but they must be de-
livered at the risk of the purchaser, and
any vessel carrying them is liable to sez-
ure. So. by this stroke, Japan doubtless
has seriously embarrassed China in her
efforts to supply herself with marine
equipment in otner countries. The condi-
tions are very similar to those of the
Tonquin campaign in 1Ss4-S5, when, under
the name of ''reprisals," actual war was
waged on China by France Although there
was no formal declaration of war when the
French decreed rice to be contraband, the
United States and all other nations
the British minister to China, who was
reprimanded for 1t by his own government.
lust Just what the effect will be on the
Cninese treaty ports cannot be foretold
now. japan has taken the ground that
they are practically foreign settlements
and therefore has disclaimed any inten-
tion to interfere with them, regarding them
as outside of the zone of hostile operations.
the right under the treaties opening the
ports, 10 close them in time of war. The
ance. and the whole matter, although very
important TO commercial interests, is
shrouded in doubt. There is no precedent
for the making of some international law
on the subject unless the war ends speedi-
proceed Immediately to close the more inn
portant treaty ports, beginning with
shanghai. perhaps, by obstructing the
An Official of the japanese legation to-
day expressed himself as much pleased
statement of the difficulties which preceded
hostilities between China and japan Ii
would show TO the world. he believed, that
Japan had not acted except on great prov
ocation. in self-defense and to prevent the
Chinese from gaining any points Of adyan-
tage. The declaration by Japan that the
threatened Chinese advances would be re-
garded a menace by the japanese gov
ernment IL was held constituted prac-
tical. though not a formal declaration of
war. All the acts of hostility commenced.
he said. have taken place since the 10Th
of July, the date of the ultimatum sub
mitted by China. For this reason the
opinion is held at the legation that the
japanese government cannot be held re-
sDonsible for indemnity for the deaths by
drowning of the soldiers on the transport
Kow Shing because the latter was fying
he rft tfSl1 fap