The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-11-24
Correspondence Between China
and Japan About Corea.
THE TEXT OF THESE LETTERS
Both Nations Were Determined to Cor
rect the Smallest Government
without Outside Aid.

government has anticipated the offers
of China to the foreign powers to fur
nish the complete official correspond
ence leading up to the present war and
has itself made public this correspond
ence. 1t is published in full as a part
of the recent proceedings Of the Japan
ese diet, which have been received by
the Japanese legation here. Most of the
controversy has already been made
known to the public, but the official
letters between China and Japan give
the first account of the sharp diplomatic
conflict between the countries up to
few days before the war. The letters
run from June to July Ia. They are
numbered from one to nine.
Number one is from Wang, the Chi
nese minister to Japan. 1t informs ia
pan that a telegram has been received
from Ii Hung Chang stating that the
Corean government has requested China
to send troops to suppress the rebellion
of the Tong Haks. Viceroy Lii it says,
considers the rebellion serious and
therefore complies with the request for
troops to protect our tributary state"
first notifying Japan in accordance with
the treaty provisions that each shall
inform the other before entering Corea
Number two is from Mulsu, minister
of foreign affairs of Japan. 1t very
pointedly states: "In reply, 1 beg to de
clare that although the words 'tribu-
tary states appear in your note, the
Japanese government has never recog-
nized Corea as tributary state oe
China"
JAPAN WAS IN 1T.
Number three is a note from the Jap
anese government that it intends send
ing troops to Corea to suppress the re-
bellion.
Number four is a letter from the Chi
nese cabinet to the Japanese minister
at Pekin. The letter expresses surprise
that Japan should send troops to Corea
when it has not been so requested by
Corea. 1t adds the following significant
language: 1.-THE sole object of your
country in sending troops is evidently
to protect the legations, consulates and
commercial people in Corea and conse-
quently it may not be intended on the
part of your country to dispatch great
number of troops and besides, as no
application therefor has been made by
Corea, 1t is requested that no troops
shall proceed to the interior of Corea
so they may not cause alarm to her peo-
PAS anu HlOIeONeII since IL Is IedfeQ
that in the event that the soldiers of
the two nations should meet on the
way cases of unexpected accidents
might occur, owing to the difference of
language and military etiquette. We
beg to request in addition that you will
be good enough to telegraph the pur-
port Of this communication to the gov
eminent of Japan.
baY. se H.,
which Japan says: "As to the number
of troops to be sent to Corea, the Japan
csc government is compelled to exercise
its own judgment. Although no restric-
ton is placed upon the movement of
Japanese troops in Corea, they will not
be sent where their presence is not
deemed necessary. The Japanese troops
are under strict discipline and the Jap
anese government is confident that they
will not precipitate collision with
Chinese forces. 1t is hoped China has
adopted similar precautions"
REJECTED OFFERS.
Number six is the offer of the Japan
ese government to join China in gem
eral readjustment of Corea on modern
lines
Number seven is China's rejection of
the offer, in which she says: THE idea
may be excellent, but the measures of
improvement must be left to Corea
herself"
Number eight is from Japan to China,
stating that Japan can not longer dis
regard the law of self-preservation
which impels her to reform the deplor-
able conditions of Corea which are at
the root of her frequent rebellions.
Number nine is also from Japan to
China, stating that as China has de-
clined to join in the administrative re
form of Corea the only conclusion de-
ductable is that the Chinese govern
ment 'is disposed to precipitate compli-
cations"
This closes the correspondence, the
last letter being dated IL days before
the Chinese transport Kow Shing, car
rying Chinese troops to Corea, was
sunk by Japan. Japan's declaration of
war followed six days later.