The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-12-01
Firing Between Japan and
China Through the Mails Be-
fore War Was Declared.
THE CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN OUT.
Trouble Grew From q Request
From COrea for Help From
China Against Rebels.

The Japanese government has an
ticipated the recent offer of China to
the foreign powers to furnish the
complete official correspondence
leading up to the present war, and
has itself made public this cores
pondcnce. 1t is published in full as
part of recent proceedings of the
japanese diet, which have been re-
ceived by the japanese legation here.
Most of the controversy has already
been made known to the public, but
the official letters between Japan
and China give the first account of
the sharp diplomatic fencing between
the countries up to a few days be-
fore the war. The letters run from
June Z to July IA. They are num-
bered from one to nine. No. is
from Wang, Chinese minister to
Japan. 1t informs Japan that a
telegram has been received from III
Hung Chang stating that the Corean
government has requested China to
send troops to suppress rebellion
of the Tong Haks. Viceroy Ii, it
says considers the rebellion serious,
and therefore complies with the re-
quest for troops to protect "our trib-
utary state" first notifying Japan in
accordance with the treaty provision
that each shall inform the other be-
fore entering Corea.
No 2 is from Mustu, minister OF
foreign affairs of Japan. 1t very
, pointedly states. ''In reply, beg tc
declare that although the words
tributary states appeared in your
note, the japanese government has
never recognized Corea as tributary
state of China" No. 3 is notice
from the japanese government that
it intends sending troops to Corea to
suppress rebellion. No. 5 is letter
from the Chinese cabinet, TO the Jap
anese minister at Pekin. The letter
. expresses surprise that Japan should
send troops to Corea, when it has no,
p been SO requested by Corea. 1t adds
the following significant language
' "The sole object of your country il
, sending troops is evidently to protec
the legation, consulates and com
mercial people in Corea, and conse
quently it may not be necessary fo
our country to dispatch great mum
ber of troops, and besides, as no ap
plication therefore has been made b,
Corea, it is requested that no troop
shall proceed to the interior ofCorea
so they may not cause alarm to he
people; and, moreover, since it i
u feared that in the event the soldier
Z of the two nations should meet OF
+ the way cases of unexpected acciden
" might occur, owing to the differenc
of language and military etiquette
II we beg to request in addition, tina
: you will begood enough to telegrap
the purport of this communication t
II the government of Japan"
9 No. 3 is Japan's answer, in whic
u it says: "As to the number of troop
9 to be sent to Corea, the .Japanes
y government is compelled to exercis
F. their own judgement. Although n
y restriction is placed upon the move
ment of japanese troops in Cores
l. they will not be sent where the
g presence is not deemed necessar'
japanese troops are under strit
discipline and the Japanese govern
r ment is confident they will not pr,
l. cipitate a collision with Chimes
'e forces. 1t is hoped China has adop
ie ed similar precautions.
a. No. 8 is the offer of .Japane.
ID government to join China in a gel
L. eral readjustmentof Corea on model
~ lines. No. Z is China's rejection
- ~ the offer, in which she says: ''Tl
10 idea may be excellent, but the mea
is ures of improvement must be left
nd Corea herself
No. 8 is from Ianan to Chin