The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-22
CHINA'SCLASH OVER COREA
A RumOT That War Has Been Declared
With Japan.

The Corean Government Reported to
Have Accepted the Reforms Pro-
posed by the Mekado's Government.
Officials at the Japanese Legation
at Washington Express the Hope
That This viii End the Strained
Relations.
London, July 2l,-A dispatch received
here this afternoon from Shanghai says
rumor is in circulation there that war
has been declared between China snd
Japan.
CHINA PREPARING FOR WAR.
Shanghai, July 2I.-The report that
war has been declared between China
and Japan is not yet confirmed, but
| China is preparing for war.
The Chinese are blocking the northern
passage of the Yang Tse-Kiang, the
great river of China. Incoming vessels
are thus compelled to pass nearer the
| Woosung forts.
Telegraphic communication with Pekin
has been stopped on account of the foods
Japan has chartered all the Mitsui
| Bussan Company's ships in addition to
the sixteen already chartered from the
Wusen Kaisha Company.
Japan has prohibited the departure of
the Yusen steamers.
CHINA RUSHING TROOPS TO coREA.
Yokohama, July 2l.-It has been
learned here that $4,000 Chinese troops
have received orders to proceed with all
possible dispatch to Corea.
CoREA CONSENTS TO REFORMS.
Yokohama. Japan, July 21.-The Corean
government mas consented to the reforms
proposed by Japan.
British and United States marines
have been landed at Seoul, the capitol of
Corea, in order to protect the British ond
| United States legations respectively.
China has requested that Japanese war
ships be not allowed to enter the Chinese
treaty ports.
Japan, replying to the request of China
in regard to the Japanese warships, has
replied that she maintains the right to
enter these ports at any time.
The attitude of the population gener
ally is warlike.
PEACE HOPED FOR.
Washington, July 2l.-The announce
ment that Corea had consented to the re
forms proposed by Japan, caused the
officials OF the japanese legation here to
express the hope that this would end the
strained relations between Japan and
China. This depended, however, it was
said, on whether China gave her assent in
the matter and allowed the proposed
reforms TO be instituted. China
it is stated at the japanese legation, has
three times refused her assent to coop
crate with Japan in instituting the re-
forms desired In Corea Now Corea has
agreed to the reforms, it is suggested
that Japan, assisted by Corea, can go
ahead and remedy the existing condition
of affairs. No specific statement Of the
reforms desired has been received as vet
at the Japanese legation here, but their
general tenor is known and they
include changes In the system of taxation
and the removal of restrictions that now
exist on trade. At this time, it is said at
the legation, the agricultural and me-
chanical interests in Corea are absolutely
subject to the whim of local officials. who
have it in their power to make arbitrary
regulations that cause trouble and fire.
quently popular uprisings.
BAD FINANCIAL METHODS.
The financial methods of the country
are said to need radical reforms. Japan
does the banking business of the country
and the government is frequently called
on to press the Coreans for money due the
Japanese, and which, it is asserted
should be easily collected by the courts.
Japan also wants the Corean Judiciary sys-
TEN reformed, as under that now in
vogue cruel and unusual punishment is
inflicted and inquisitorial methods pre-
vail to the injury of japanese business
men. The Japanese, furthermore, want
assurances of greater liberty and safety Of
travel throughout Corea. Japanese news
papers received at the legation here
recently show, with but few exceptions, a
consensus Of editorial opinion favora bic to
the attitude assumed by the government
in the pending controversy.
DIsCREDITED BY CoREA's MINISTER.
At the Corean legation the minister
was shown a copy Of the dispatch. The
minister does not speak English, but
through his secretary he said that he did
not believe C0rea had done as was stated
as Japan had not the right to interfere
with the internal affairs of the country.
No recent telegraphic information has
been received at the legation from Corea.
A diplomat. who is familiar with the
troubles existing between Japan and
China, to-day called attention to the fact
that in the note which the latter country
sent to Japan, notifying her that she
(China) had sent troops to Corea, China
said in effect that it had "sent assistance
to their tributary state" This. the dip
lomat referred to said, was contrary 10
the declaration made by China and Japan,
the Tientsin convention of 1885, when
both countries declared it to be their
mutual desire to protect and maintain
the autonomy of Corea.