Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-11
IS IT THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE
The Reported Offer to Mediate Between
China and Japan.
Italy Supposed to Represent the Drei-
bund-Japanese Sentiment on the
Question of Peace.

The cable report that the Italian minister
at Pekin, in pursuance of instructions from
his government. had offered his services as
mediator in Bringing the China-Japan war
to Close is construed at the legations here
as possible move on the part of the triple
alliance-Germany, Italy and Austria-to
intervene. Thus far all reports of European
Intervention in the war have spoken of
England, France or Russia as the moving
powers; some reports stating that they
would act together, and others that they
would act separately. But the action of
Italy is taken to indicate that the three
powers which have no territory in Asia.
viz. Germany, Italy and Austria, are not
wholly dsinterested observers, while the
powers which have Asiatic possessions,
VIZ. ENGLAND, Russia and France, talk of
intervening with view to enlarging their
possessions if China is Gismembered
member of the diplomatic corps, we'll
informed on the japanese situation, said:
If the Dreibund desires to be a factor in
any International Intervention it would
naturally select Italy to take the initiative.
Germany is the moving spirit of the Drei
bund. but owing to the relations between
Germany and France any intervention by
the former would naturally excite the op-
position of the latter Germany would be
most likely, therefore. to have Italy pro-
pose the intervention. Any ARRANGEMENT
made would, of course, have the support of
the triple alliance, as Italy, Germany and
Austria are bound by the alliance to mutual
action, offensive and defensive, in interna-
tional affairs. In view of this alliance for
mutual action on ali foreign questions, ii
seems certain that the proposal of Italy is,
in fact. the proposal of the triple alliance"
Japunese Views.
A japanese newspaper received at one of
the legations here says:
mo offer of mediation on the part of a
third power should be accepted by Japan
until her object shall have been completely
attained. which is to place Corean inde-
pentence on q secure footing and so to
crush the power of China as to leave her
totally unable for many years TO come to
attemp; any retaliation"
Another japanese paper, the Kokkai, is
afraid that its countryEen may sacrifice
interest to empty honor After the defeat
Of her forces and the invasion of Man
churla by the Japanese army the Chinese
government may perhaps attempt to con-
clUde peace with Japan on such terms as
are apparently honorable to Japan, but are
really advantageous to China. The Japan
ese, says the kOkkai, are always prone to
sacrifice interest for the sake of honor
ana there is just ground to fear that their
natural propensity may betr4y them into a
false step in the present instance. The
ought to be to secure honor and interest at
the same time.
These expressions from the Japanese
press coincide with the views of Japanese
authorities here, that there can be no
mediation which does not give Corea COM
to further retard the progress Of the east
and reimburse Japan, either in money or
territory for her enormous expenditures
contracted by the war.