The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-12-01
JAPAN WAS JUSTIFIED.
The Searching Of the Steamer sgd
ney Fully Warranted.
THE TWO ADVENTURES RELEASED

tracted with China to Destroy Japnn's
} Navy-Greaa Britain's Demands for tho
Chung King Affront-Anarchy in Corea.
VICTORIA, B. O., Dec 1.-The steamship
Victoria, thirteen days from Yokohama,
arrived yesterday Tho Associated Press
correspondent writing Nov. IA says: No
trouble Is expected to result from the af-
fair Of the steamer Sydney. The United
States government Is understood to regard
the action of Japan as justifiable, on the
grounds Of self defense, and Great Britain
comedies, although some form of explana-
tion or apology may be deemed desirable.
France has taken less easy view of the
situation, but is not disposed to make serb
BUS difficulties. Her opinion appears to be
that the exigency was not sufficiently
alarming to call for SO grave measure as
the removal Of passengers from the French
mnil steamship.
Later developments indicate that the
self declared explosive experts were ire
sponsible spectators, If not imposters.
Reports were received connecting Colonel
Fred Grant with the undertaking, and his
namo carried with it weight which would
not have been accorded to unknown adj
yenturers. 1t is well known that Ii Hung
Chang holds the memory of General Grant
in reverence, and he would presumably
have been disposed to place unusual re-
sources at the disposal of party repre-
senting his son. The sums alleged to have
been promised TO Colonel Grant, and
which have been actually advanced to his
agents, correspond exactly with those set
forth by the travellers on the Gaelic and
Sydney.
Taking these and other co-relative facts
into consideration, the Japanese govern
ment believed itself under the necessity Of
guarding against the threatened danger.
The French diplomatic and consular Of
f1cials were powerless to intervene, even
had they been inclined to do 30, and, rely
ing upon the authorized rulings of inter
national law, Japan awaited herself Of
what she claims as belligerent right.
The American passengers were released
on Nov. 12, after taking oaths not to aid
China in any manner, and expressing in
writing their gratitude for the leniency of
their treatment by the Japanese govern
ment A telegram from Paris announces
that the French government has referred
several points of the Sydney affair to its
legal advisers, who pronounce Judgment
that japan acted within her rights, and is
not liable to censure under the rules Of in
ternational law.
The feeling of the por ;ilace is strongly
against Intervention in negotiations for
peace by the United States or by any
western country, and the Japanese govern
ment considers that nothing but an APP
plication from China herself will be
| acceptable.
| AS previously reported, the minister of
| of foreign affairs recently sent COM
munication to the governor of the port at
| Kamagarvain, in which it was stated that
| Japanese subjects serving on board United
States ships in Japanese ports must be re-
| garded by the government as coming I'M
| der the jurisdiction of the imperial courts
whenever charged with offenses against
the law. As this is the opinion maintained
I by the United States, the question was
brought up for diplomatic discussion.
1t now appears that the foreign minister
had no intention to deliver an ex-cathedra
Judgment on the subject. A native news
paper which printed his letter to the local
! governor has been fined twenty yen for
publishing private official documents with
out permission. The correspondence under
consideration conveyed only the individual
views of the writer. The incident will,
therefore, pass without further debate.
The Japanese newspapers are amusing
themselves by publishing maps Of China
in partitions, showing the condition it
will be in after the war has had its full
effect. Most of these maps represent
Japan in possession of the provinces of
Singing, Chilli, Sang, Guing, Kiahgau,
Chekiang and Flu KEN, and as a result
the vice royalties of Shanzi, Monon and
Annui. To England are assigned Kwong,
Huna, Hupeh and Shensi; to Germany,
Kwangai, Kweichow and Hainau, and to
France, Yunan, Szechuen and Kangsuh.
The territory of Mongolia, and nothing
more, is set apart for Russia.
That Great Britain has assumed an ex-
tremely threatening attitude towards
China is asserted with great emphasis and
directness by correspondents in Pekin and
Tientsin. The apparent neglect of her
former power to demand PREPARATION for
the Chung King affront when Japanese
passengers sailing under the British flag
were outraged and robbed by Chinamen)
has never ceased to be matter of sur
prise, but il reports now current are well
founded 1t is evident that the wrath of the
English government is not slumbering fol
a moment, We now hear of considerable
preparation for the enforcement of salts
faction Admiral Freemantle has sum
moned the entire British fleet to meet al
Shanghai to await the arrival of a strong
military force from India, the landing Of
which at Chusan is to be effected without
delay. The British envoy is to demant
payment of large sum, the degradation
and dismissal of the chief magistrate hold
ing office at Tientsin, and an avowal o
regret, accompanied by salute to the flas
from the gunboats of the Taku forts.
these conditions are not promptly fulfilled
troops and warships will commence re
prisals.
Affairs in Corea appear to be in a very
bad state, despite official Japanese state
ments. The interference of Japan to
wards putting everything right appears t.
have had the contrary effect by putting
everythingwrong Anarchy stalks through
out the southern part of the kingdom. Il
is said that there arc armies of malcon
tents ranging from 10000 to $1,000 strong
The entire population may be said to b.
hostile to the occupation of the Japanese
and though the wretched king, who is n
plastic clay In the hands of potter ha
been directed TO issue an edfct that ever,
one is to be beheaded who moests tn
Japanese, but small heed is likely to b
paid to such sweeping order, for If 1
were possible to carry it out Gorea would
lose very heavy percentage of her NAL
population.
Pennsylvania Revenue.
II ha =.