Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-22
They Are Authorized to Transmit
China's Offer to Japan.
Its PROBABLE TENOR OUTLINED
Japan to Receive Total Sum Ap-
proximating $50, 100000 TaeIs.
CHINA TO SUE FOR PEACE

In accordance with the suggestion :. of
Japan the State Department has notified
Minister Dun at Toxic and Minister Den
by at Pekng to transmit such direct offer
as China may wish to make to Japan. AS
the cable directions were sent Tuesday
sufficient time has not yet elapsed to deter
mine whether China will consent to make
an offer direct and definite, as Japan in
sists must be done. The Chinese legation
here is not Informed as to what course its
Press cable states. however, that China
has intimated her willingness to pay an
indemnity of 1O0.OOOOOO taels. and in addi-
ton pay all the war expenses incurred by
Japan. AS the war expenses reach $780,
100000 taels the total offer of China would
be 25O,OOOOOO taels. The tael is Chinese
silver coin worth about IS cents at the
present exchange, so that the whole pay
ment would be approximately $lIo,OOO,OOO
American money The amount is regarded
here as quite large. and Ii is believed ar
rangements between the two nations could
be effected on terms providing Tor small
er war indemnity.
Views of Resident Diplomats.
Diplomats here say that under ordinary
circumstances 1t would take some time
for China to formally present its offer
to Minister DENLY, but owing to the fact
that the japanese are now at the walls
CT Port Arthur, about to make the last
blow at China's greatest fortress, 1t Is an
ticipated that China may hurry the nego-
tiations to conclusion. 1t Is expected
that Minister DENLY will transmit the offer
by telegraph to Tien-Tsin and Shanghai
and thence by cable to Yokohama. The
understanding is that China will pay the
expenses of the American ministers in
cident to the negotiation.
Watching Jnpan's Advance On Port
Arthur.
The advance On Port Arthur is regarded
as having an important bearing on the
peace negotiations. Lieutenant Miyoka.
naval attache of the Japanese legation
here. says the advance movement has
been most cautious, the ground for
forty miles around Port Arthur has been
found fairly alive with powder mines con-
nected with electric wires to Port Arthur.
Three days ago the Japanese were within
a days march of the fortress, but 1t was
necessary to send ahead small scouting
parties to pick route away from the
mines and electric wires. The regular
roads could not be used for the artillery,
as 1t would have been blown up, and ac-
Cordingly the big guns have had to be
moved in circultouS routes through woods
and morass. 1t is regarded as likely that
this cautious march will have been COM
pleted today, and the Japanese legation is
hourly expecting word that the decisive
blow has been struck, though long siege
may be necessary. as the fortress has one
of the strongest defenses of modern times.
1t is believed that Japanese success
would quickly close the peace negotia-
tions, but that repulse would impel China
to hold off further.
Qualifications of Our Ministers.
Officials and diplomats are scanning the
records of Messrs. Dun and DENLY to as
certain their capacity to deal with the
large question committed to them. Mr..
Dun has had unusual experience in Japaii
Gen. Capron, who built the japanese lega-
ton In Washington, wished to send a con-
signment Of fine rlerino sheep to japan.
The Duns had a stock farm in Ohio and
furnished the sheep, young Dun goiEy to
lock after them. He remained in japan:
some time and finally married a Japanese
lady of high family, by whom he had a
dGughtet. This attached him to the jap
anGse and made him q fixture there Pres
ident Arthur first appointed him as second
secretary IF the United States legation at
Toxic. When President -Cleyeland's ad-
ministration began, two years ago. Cali
fornia made an effort to secure the ap-
pointment of the minister to Japan for one
of her favored sons. At oppcrtune
time, however, Judge Thurman, who had
been on the presidential ticket with Mr..
Cleveland four years before, asked the
President as the only favor he had to re-
quest that Mr.. Dun be promoted to minis
ter. The request was complied with. Mr..
Dun'S japanese wife Is dead, but his rela-
tions with the Japanese are very cordial,
which, with his long experience, well fits
him for the present negotiation.
Minister DENLY Is a lawyer of ability,
who has served through three administra-
tions, being appointed during Mr.. Cleve-
lands first term, retained Dy Mr.. Harrison
owing to their personal associations in In
diana, and the objection of China to Sena-
tor Blair, and again retained by Mr.. Cleve-
land. He has an outward austerity, which
has not, however, prevented his being most
acceptable to China