New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-12
CHINA'S SIDE OF THE CASE.
A STATEMENT BY CHANG YEN HOON,
ONCE MINISTER AT WASHINGTON.

EFFORTS OF THE BRITISH MINISTER At PEK1NG
TO AVERT HosTILITIES- president CLEvE-
LANDS PosITIoN-JAPANs ALLEGED
VIOLATION OF THE TREATY
Washington. Oct. 1.-THE first authoritative
statement OF the Chinese side in the present war
with Japan given out to-day through the
medium of a personal letter received by man
in Washington Of international reputation.
Chang Yen Hoon. a member OF the Tsung Ii
Yamen. Foreign Office. and formerly Minister
to the United States, is the writer Of the letter,
and, while it is of a personal character he asks
that II be given to the American press. The
letter follows:
Peking China. August II. 1894
My Dear Friend Since last had the pleasure OF
writing you. the evils Of war have fallen upon my
you to know the exact causes ot the unfortunAie
trouble between this Government and the Govern
ment of Japan. and which may be more correctly
represented by me than it is likely to be reported
In the papers OF America .,.,,,....
character broke in the southern part Of Corea;
and as that country is trihutary 10 this Govern
eordnsiy' 10 ot troops we're dispatched by the
Vceroy ii. to the vicinity OF the rebellion place
Coresn capital. with no other aim but to suppress
pssDs s rebels e n1 on
the action OF the Imperial Government. sent IN
Corean capital and fortified themselves in all the
imPortant positions. , vs,..
the re bells dispersed and peace restored. In
accordance with treaty between the TWO Gov
Immediately be Withdrawn after 4 RIO; or r b-on
mad been suppressed. the Imperial Government
was about to withdraw It's troops; but Japan IN
sisted on permanently stauoning hcr military
manded that certain reforms should BE- forced on
Corca, modifying IT'S laws. and asking the I'm
Prs y 10 coGd not for
is not the custom. nor do the laws permit that
We should control the internal affairs OF tribu-
/ need not remind you that history has for years
And at the time When Corea sent her first repre-
sentative to Washington. on ny call at your STATE
tate - acknowledge that Corea was tributary to
the Imperial Government and that it Was with
As matters were developing Into very dangerous
Court WAS good enough to offer his services. in ihe
peaceabiy by arbitration. The Imperial Govern
most willing TO act according TO the
treaty stipulatiOns between the two countries. on
intimaton Of Her Britannia Majestys Minister
that the wthdra wal Of the troops Of bOth would
assist in a speedy arrangement We expressed our
nese Minister at Seoul informed our representative
there that he would advise his Government TO
withdraw its troops and put stop to further forces
about TO be dspached TO corea nt I'll IPan pa Mould
promises contained in the treaty stipulatons Her
Britannia Majcsty's Minister'S weil-mcant nterven-
ton OF no avail On being asked by This Gov
ernment. noble President also represented TO
Japanese
how sorry he would feel 10 hear that friendly rela-
tons had ceased between the two countries. and
that he would consider II an unjust and unneces-
sary
Finally, the japanese Legation sent this Foreign
Once "A most unreasonable note, insisting that
should hostilites break ont, II would not be Japan
that commenced them. II 1t had been the inten-
ton Of this Government TO gain any advantage
from the Corean trouble we would have sent moro
than 1900 troops to the country, and they wOIid
have occupied Themselves In other ways than In IT,
suDpressng OF rebels | am sure the world Will be
Thoroughly convinced that China, not only in 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 reinforcenents thither
TO protect Chinese subjects and the interests she
rad On loved and which had been recognized by the
civilized world for many years; and II was not un-
tI our transport ships had been fired upon without
a previous declaration OF war, and one Of them
eank that this Government gave up all hopes OF
arbitration and entered upon war
In the fear that the exact causes OF this unhappy
trouhle may not have been properly presented in
Tho American newspapers ] write YOU In the hope
that vou will be convinced that Government
RS done the utmost maintain friendly relations
and that IL was not China that commenced hos
,ii,ies II IL Is not improper and not against the
Isnal nractlce | would Ike to have this letter pub
1iehcd In your leading newspapers. hoping that its
,uhlication may gain for my country the sympathy
~ the great American people. ] remain yours ever
truly, '>' 'H-' NUN