The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-13

4 Latter From Diplomat Formerly "ib-
s.,.r IN IN. Uuitcd sh ..

WASHINGTON. oct Ia prominent
diplomat, for many~years cohhsele1 WI, MI
the State Department, mas r.'' ,tntst'',
Chang Yen Hoon, the cx-thshSse ihInis ~
20 the United s ~ sne g hoard at TT Pekin
(Tsung- IL YaDen). which corresponds 20
Tho foreign Office In otber cothuits. tne
following letter, which gives nv hS 49,
thorized and explicit statement VI htnh
chinese version OF the causes WIZ
brought about me pieSehl wa
~'''''" "' peNin. China, August q, 1874;
My Dear Friend, Since j iasd na S Gar
pleasurc Of writing you, the eN .,S ~ .,d.
- TslJeo uDoD my country most SUI
denly ii may be OF interest 20 YOU ~
Enow the exact causes OF the untoItsl a.
frouble between this GoVernheh. a4iu ~ ~,
Goyernment OF japan, ana which may nay, ~ a,
more correctly represen'ea vs "r rar"rs OF
Is likely 20 De rcpoTteu III '"O
In the month OF June last riots OF ar. re-
heiitofs character broke out IN the sou'i a.
srn part OF Corea. and as that country ~
tributary 10 this Government, IL so atst,i'
from us military assistance. ASoSt"' -
H. ! foo froops were dispatched by tne
Eiceroy Ii to the vicinity oi tne rtpe,' ''t,
a Mace named Ya-ShaD. about seheit.y
miles from the Corean capital, Win 10
ntbcr aim than TO suppress the rebels
and to restore peace 10 those uhiVIt .i'a'e
people. The Japanese Government, on
hearing Of the action OF the impefiai
Government. sent Immediately hike ~
81 took possession OF the COTean capital,
and fortified themselves In All the I'M
p0rtant positions. .1 ..
When III. Chinese troops arrived al
Ya-Shan. the rebels dispersed, ana Peaos
was restored. In accordance WIN ueay
between the two governments u'at VIZ
forces of both countries shouid lUlnIeoidlc
iy be Withdrawn after riot or a re-
bellon had been suppressed tht inlpeiii ~ ~
Government was about 10 WhhuidW 10
troous but japan insisted on permanent
ly stAtionng her military forces IN that
country. Soon afterwards Japan demand
ed that certain reforms SnOolu De ioiN,o
on Corea. modifying us laws, ahd ASK
Ing the Imperial Government TO rthouhce
Ali claims over Corea My Government
would not consent, for ii Is not the GUS
tom nor do the laws permit tnat we
should control the internal affairs OF
tributary country
| need not remind you that history has
for years told us that C0rca Is tributary
TO this country. And at the tine WAen
Corea sent her first representative 70
Washington, on my call at your STATE
Department, the Secretary OF state dld
not hesitate to acknowledge that Corea
was tributary to the Imperial Govern
ment, and that IL was with it's consent
that she carried on treaty negotiations
with foreign powers.
AS matters were developing into dam
lister 80 this court was good enough 10
offer his services, IN the hope that the
two nations might settle the question
peaceably by arbitration. The Imperial
Government was most Willing 10 dct az
cording TO the treaty stpulauons between
the two countries. On an intmau0n OF
her Britannia Majestys minister, that
the Withdrawal of the troops OF both
would assist In a speedy arrangement, we
expressed our perfect readiness 10 recall
ttnn las a minister M
Seoul informed our representative there
that he would advise his Government 10
Withdraw its troops, and put stop 10
further forces about 10 be dispatched 10
Corta. But Japan would not listen 20
reason, and disregarded all the solemn
promises contained I'm the treaty stpula-
lions. Her Britannia MaJesty's minister 5
weii-meant intervention was of no avail.
On being asked by this Government. your
noble President also represented To the
Japanese Government, In most strong
terms. how sorry he would feel to hear
that friendly relations had ceased be-
tween the two countries. and that he
would consider 1t an unjust and unneces-
sary war.
Finally, the Japanese legation sent this
foreign office a most unreasonable note.
Insisting that should hosulitles break out,
81 would not be Japan that commenced
them. If It had been the intention OF
this Government to gain any advantage
from the Corean trouble, we would have
sent more than 300 troops 10 that coun-
try, and they woald have occupied them
selves In other ways than i'm the sup
preston of rebels. ! am sure the world
will be thoroughly convinced that China.
not only ia this case. but In all previous
troubles, has never taken the offensive
AS Japan continued TO increase her
forces In corea, and affairs became more
threatening. the imperial Government
sent achievements thither to protect Chi
nese subjects and the interests she had
enjoyed, and which had been recognized
by the civilized world for many years,
and 1t was not until our transport ships
had been fired upon. without a previous
declaration of war. and one OF them
sunk. that this Government gave Up all
hopes OF arbitration, and entered upon
war.
In the fear that the exact causes Of
this unhappy trouble may not have been
properly presented in the American news
papers, | write you, In the hope that you
will be convinced that my Government
mas done the utmost TO maintain friendly
relations. and that IL was not China that
commenced hostlities. II il is not inn
proper, and not against the usual practice.
] would like TO have this letter published
IN your leading newspapers hoping that
It's publication may gain for my country
the sympathy Of the great American peo-
pie.
/ remain, yours ever truly,
CHAN YEN HOON.