The morning call., 1894-11-21

contract with the authorizes OF Inr en-
pire to destroy the Japanese navy Within
eight weeks from the time of his arrival
He processes TO have dlscoverea an ex-
plosive of tremendous power. which he de-
clared he had first offered TO t1e japanese,
bnt rs his proposal was contemporary
refused he had turned to the other bellger-
ept and sought employment from the
Chinese legation al Washington. Re
ceiying sufficient encouragement Tor his
purpose he started for the East, accom-
p.nied bv an American assistant. regis
Iered as George Howie, and Chinese in
terpreter. furnished him by the legation.
How the Japanese were warned of this
transaction has not been discovered, but
their approximations were awakened TO
such an extent that they determined at all
hazards to prevent the further progress OF
the party. That they endeavored 10 do
this with a careful regard TO the require
ments Of international law is doubted by
nobody, but whether they have succeeded
in every particular is the question geneT-
ally discussed by foreign residents.
The arrested men are under close guar
dianship in Kobe The affair concerns.
more or less directly. three Western ma
tions-the United States, France and Eng
land-and it is already under diligent con-
sideration by the diplomatic agents Of the
respective Governments. 1t is understood
that the French Minister in Toxic pro-
tests earnestly against the action of the
Japanese in this case, and that he has tele-
graphed home for special instructions.
Japan will contend, in defense. that the
persons detained had entered into an
mt
officials, by which they undertook to
conduct hostile operations of great
magnitude and Importance against
both tie Japanese navy and mercan-
tile marine, and, as the French
representatives here stationed were not
authorized to interrupt them in their jour
neY to the seat of war, 1t became neces-
sary as a measure of self-protecton to
have recourse to belligerent rights. Japan
will claim that a seizure of this descrip-
ton, namely. of individuals in the actual
service Of an enemy, proceeding on neu-
trail vessel to that enemy's country, is JUS
titled by recognized principles of nterna-
tionsl law. The right is believed TO be
strengthened on the present occasion by
the fact that the arrests were made first
on a vessel sailing from a port of one of
the belligerents to port of the other, and
second that they were made by the first
named helligerent within his own terrific
rial waters. The ship itself was not
seized because IF the consideration that
the captain was believed 10 Ge ignorant of
the character of the individuals arrested
and. furthermore, because the Sydney is
a regular mali steamer, the detention of
which would have caused great incon-
venience to numerous persons in no wise
implicated.
There Is no question that the parties ar
rested were in the service of China. They
bore letter to Ii Hung Chang from The
Chinese Envoy at Washington. and also
formal contract promising to paw S1.000,-
coo for the destruction of the Japanese
navy and specified sum for every mer-
chant ship destroyed. It appears that
$780, 600 has already been paid on account.
The Japanese officials emphatically
assert that the seizure was made 10 ac-
cordance with the methods laid down for
such contingencies by the highest inter-
national authorities. the process having
been executed with due caution and dis
erection by an officer of the imperial navy.
Some doubts are entertained as to the
nationality of Brown and HOWE. They
declare themselves English by birth but
Americans by naturalization. and one or
both served until recently in the Brazilian
navy.
WASHINGTON. Nov 2O.-The Japanese
legation here has received word that the
French Government expresses itself
satisfied that the Japanese authorities
acted properly in boarding the French
steamer Sydney and arrestng Mr.. Moore
formerly Of the Chinese legation here, and
two Americans charged with plotting to
destroy the japanese navy.