Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-29
Her Defamation of China's Proposals
Believed to Be a Fact.
VIEWS OF JAPANESE DIPLOMATS
They Resent the Suggested Inter-
ference Of European Powers.
CONDITIONS OF THE CASE

While the Japanese legation has received
no Official confirmation of the dispatches
Ihuicstlng That the mission of Mr. Detrinx
Oh pehaiI or China, to Japan has been a
| FAILURE, the disposition there is to regard
| the information as authentic The time
| they say. has passed when the differences
existing between the two nations can be
settled by the customs authorities as if II
were a matter of mere business routine
and they declare that IL China really de-
sires to bring about peace through negotia-
| lions 1T must be done through a regularly
| accredited envoy from the Emperor of
| China to the Emperor of Japan. In the
| meantime. and until China comes to real
| lie that this is the only condition under
which peace negotiations can proceed. the
war must go on
The japanese authorities here do not re-
gard with favor the reports of the inter-
ference OF the European powers. Regard
ing the st. Petersburg Associated Press dis
| patch, quoting the Novoe Vremya. they
say that while they recognize that the
NoVoe Nremya may speak from authority
on account Of Its relation with the Rus
sian crown, Its assumption that Japan has
ton.
Direct Negotiation Necessary.
They also assert that no figures have
been fixed as to the amount OF indemnity
winch Japan is willing to- accept These
are matters of detail which Japanese off,
| Gals In this city say can be arranged only
when China comes to realize that there is
put one way to treat with Japan, and that
is py direct negotiation. They take the DO
sition that so far Japan has done nothing
which could justify the interference of the
| foreign powers, and intimate that II will
| be time enough for their interposition
when Japan shall really make some de-
| mand that will be unreasonable.
This Characterization applies only to the
European powers There is no disposition
70 scout the proposition Of the United
states to mediate. On the contrary, II is
| suggested at the legation that IL would be
inaries of any peace negotiation conducted
by the American ministers to Japan and
emma, because they are informed as to
the situation. and It is believed that they
the negotiations once under way they in
sist. however, that the details must be left
to be arranged by direct conference be-
tween the personal representatives of the
chinese ruler and the Japanese foreign
minister.
The following dispatch from st. Peters
burg is the message containing the Ian
| guage OF the Russian official organ, which
the japanese diplomats here do not think
Is founded upon the real conditions of the
case.
ST. PETERSBURG. November 29.-Ths
Novoe Nremya declares that the irrecon-
a
peace proposals renders it incumbent upon
the powers to demand explanations In re-
| gard to japanese ultimate objects.
Secretary Gresham and the Spies.
Secretary Gresham declines to discuss the
question of the wisdom and justice OF his
action in the matter of the two japanese
spies surrendered by our consul general,
and afterward tortured and executed by
the Chinese authorities at Nankin. He be-
| lieves that he has done his full duty in the
matter. and that he will be able to convince
| everybody that he has acted wisely when
all the facts shall be known. While his
humane impulses were shocked at the time
by the news of the execution OF the Japan
csc, and he also was amazed TO lind that
the assurances of the Chinese government
had proved empty. he does not see now how
he could have done otherwise than as he
did. He says he Is supported in his opinion
by prominent diplomatic officers here, who
agree with him in the suggestion that the
Japanese prisoners. accused as spies, might
have been tried in q mixed tribunal, would
have been an untenable proposition, and
would have involved q departure from our
policy. as well as a novelty In international
law.