The morning call., 1894-07-28
THE CASE OF CHINA AND JAPAN.

War has been declared between China
and japan and actual hostilties have
occurred. What may be the result no one
can prOphesy. 1t may amount to a mere
! local quarrel or it may involve Europe.
A great responsibility rests upon which
ever power invokes the latter possibility.
Even if the war be localized it is serious
| business for both nations, especially for
| Japan. 1t is hardly likely that the latter
! Government would enter upon such an
| enterprise lightly. Indeed it cannot be
! shown with our present light that Japan
! has been the aggressor. That assumption
is largely based upon the fact that Korea
is contiguous to China, has been a tribu-
tary to that nation, and that Japan conse-
| quently appears in the light Of an inter-
| Oper. 1t is claimed as tact that Korea
has also frequently paid tribute to Japan.
Yet on that argument alone China would
probably have the best of it. China's
claim as suZerain is weakened, if not de-
stroyed, by the fact that in 1885 treaties
recognizing the autonomy OF Korea were
concluded with all the leading nations of
the world.
Japan has greater trade and personal
in tereSts in Korea than any other nation.
1t has happened that for many years
whenever an outbreak of violence has
occurred in Korea the japanese residents
and their property have been the first and
heaviest sufferers. In 1882 in an insurrec-
ton the japanese legation at Seoul was
looted, members of the Minister'S suite
were murdered and the Minister was
driven from the city. In 1884 another
tad in ha Nm Of bo
japanese legation and the slaughter OF
fOrty-two peaceful japanese residents,
while the Minister with his suite and
guards barely succeeded iii fighting their
way out of the city. Japan condoned
both these offeDses on. payment of indem-
nlty, large part of which was remitted.
OF course. under such a condition of
affairs TO overcome the first duty of the
j apanese Government is to look after the
interests of its subjects in Korea. After
the insurrection in 1884 the Tientsin con-
vention agreed that Japan should have
the same right as China TO send troops to
Korea for the protection of her interests.
1t was also agreed that neither country
should send troops without notifying the
other. The recent rebellion in Korea
called for the dispatch of troops China,
it is alleged, sent hers without warning
Japan. Japan at onre sent force to pro.
tect her Interests as she had treaty right
to do. 1t is further asserted that the
Peking Government has refused to give
any assurance that it will withdraw its
force in case that Japan will do the same.
and has also rel ejected offered British medi-
alton. Hen ce this clash of arms.
a member of our own Cabinet suggests
that Japan is going to war with China to
staYe off a rebellion at home. The ground |
for that statement does not appear. There |
may bb something in it, but there is no
proof offered. There is some discomfort in !
Japan over treaty revision, and consider |
able anti-forelgn sentiment has been |
stirred up which has resulted here aad |
there in minor deeds of violence. No doubt |
the Government has progressed farther
than the mass of the people in the adoption |
of Western ideas and methods, but there |
has been no intimation in japanese ad- |
vices that there was serious danger OF |
rebellion threatened. Apparently the
most deciding factor in the precipitation of
war is the determination of China to assert
her ancient claim of prepOnderance in
Korea and tho equal determination of
Japan to stand out for the conditions of
the TientSin conference.