Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-15
GRAB is THE GAME.
That Europe Wants to Play in
the Chino-Jap War.
BLOCKS UNCLE sAMEs MEDIATION.


China, Also, Fails to Name a Reasonable
Basis for Peace eNegotiations-Some Light
in the India N Territory Problem.
WASHINGTON, Nov. bit is stated here
IA official circles that Japan has not yet
accepted the invitation of the United
States to submit the qestion OF peace with
china to our mediation. While this state
ment is probably literally correct there is
reason to believe that Japan has re-
4uested, as a preliminary to action upon
our invitation, that she be informed ex-
plicitly just what terms China has to pro-
pose as basis of a treaty of peace. Up
to this moment China has not submitted
any definite proposals, so that the delay
appears To be rather on her part than
with Japan. 1t could not fairly be ex-
pected that the japanese would halt in
Their triumphant march and perhaps af
ford their opponents very potent oppor-
tunity to rally from their disorganized
condition unless Japan is furnished with
some satisfactory proposition by China
that may be binding beyond question
upon the matter.
All Sin Still Childlile and Bland.
No such satisfactory proposition has vet
been made by China but on the contrary
the Chinese tenders so far have been on a
basis that could not be accepted with safe
ty and consistency by Japan For in
stance Chinese proposition was that
Corea should be evacuated by both Chi
nese and japanese troops. Inasmuch rs
the principal cause of the war was .Japan's
contention that the entire Corean admin
istration and financial system must be
reformed on modern lines, and that jap
an must undertake the task, n temporary
occupation of the country, mt least, by
Japan was necessary condition. Anoth-
er condition that the japanese troops
evacuate China Immediately would also
violate all precedent, for it is customary
in such cases for the victorious nation to
retain possession of captured territory as
pledge until the payment of the war
indemnity.
Europe the Chief Difficulty.
After the Franco Prussian war the Ger
man forces thus held Belfort and other
French fortresscs until the enormous war
indemnity of 1000, 900, 900 had been paid
to Germany. But disrcgarding these
points of difference it is becoming more
evident that the interference of European
powers is the stumbling block in the way
of a settlement of the war through the
mediation of the United States. They
nearly all have interests in the East which
they regard as paramount to our own, and
by no means relish the acUion of the United
States, first in refusing TO cooperate with
them in intervening, and second in seek
ing to settle the war without reference to
the interests of any nation other than
China and Japan-the principals-which
might result in the checking of the frui-
ton of some little schemes for their own
aCgrandizemcnt which had been formed.
An official who has given much atten-
tion to the subject is of the opinion that
Russia viii never consent to anything
that looks like an indefinite occupation of
Corea by Japan, rs Great Britain occupies
Egypt, unless she Is herself allowed to
take possession of port in Corea for
the eastern terminus of the Siberian rail-
way. France is reported to have demand
ed "a coaling station on the island of For
mosa, and Great Britain has reached out
for the island of Chuscn. 1t is probable
that any representations by these or other
powers TO the United States to have these
claims included in the terms of peace
would fall upon deaf ears, although it
may be that the combined influence of
these powers may defeat our purpose to
act as a mediator.