Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-28
AS LEGAL ADVISER
E1-secretary John W. Foster Will
Give His Counsel to China.
GOSSIP IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES
No Delay VIII Be Made in the
Peace Negotiations.
n OF A NE W T H 1 n G


Gen. John w. Foster, ex-Secretary Of
State, has been retained by the Chinese
government as it's legal advisor in the mat
ter of the peace negotiations with Japan,
shortly to be opened at Hiroshima, the
headquarters of the Japanese emperor. He
will act in an advisory capacity to the
Chinese peace ENJOYS and will have no dip
| lomatic standing in the matter. AS 1t is
put by one authority, Mr.. Foster has been
requested by the Chinese government TO go
to Japan and meet the plenipotentiaries OF
the former government to aid them IN their
| negotiate lions for peace.
Another authority says that he has been
Cmlploy ed merely as lawyer AT any
rate. Gen. Foster has accepted the com
mission and expects to leave washington
within few days in time TO take the
steamer sailing from Vancouver for Yoko-
hama on the 9TH proximo. MIR. roster de-
sires to have it understood that ne goes 10
Japan purely in private capacity, ana
that he is in nowise authorized to repre-
sent to speak for the government or the
United States.
GOSSIP In Diplomatic Circles.
This appointment is the subject of con-
siderable gossip in diplomatic circles, but
for some reason known only to themselves
neither of the diplomatic representatives
specially interested will say word on the
subject for publication Mr.. Foster also
says that he has nothing whatever TO add
to the statement on this subject furnished
by him to the press last evening. He told
a Star reporter this afternoon that great
many newspaper men had called on him
today to discuss the matter, but that he
had invariably declined to do so. The
statement that Mr.. Fosters appointment
had been approved by the Japanese gov
eminent through its minister at Washing
ton is not entirely accurate. The fact is
that when Gen. Foster informed MIR. kuri-
no, the Japanese minister, of his appoint
ment the latter extended his personal con-
gratuations, but took especial care not to
commit his government in the matter.
1t is said that Mr.. Fosters legal connec-
ton with the Chinese peace commission is a
matter of no particular concern to the Jap
anese government and would not be likely
to call for any action on its part 1t Is.
however said to be source OF grattfica-
ton to the Japanese minister that a person
of so much prominence In country friendly
alike to both Japan and China should have
been selected to act as legal adviser to the
latter in it's efforts to bring about a cessa-
ton of hostilities on the most honorable
terms possible The Japanese government
was not consulted in the matter of Mr..
Fosters APPOINTMENT. and. consequently.
has taken no official cognizance OF 1t; that
is not so far can be ascertained by the
most diligent, inquiry at this end of the line.
No Delay IN the Negotiations.
Although 1t is not so stated at the Jap
anese legation, the impression is conveyed
that there is not likely to be any delay in
the conduct of the peace negotiations by
reason of Mr. Fosters absence from the
place of injecting. The latest information
from China is to the effect that its two
commissioners. Chin Yen Huan and Shao,
are already we'll ,on their way from Pekln
to Hiroshima, with reasonable prospects OF
reaching there within the next ten days
Although the Japanese representatives
have not yet been announced, there is rea-
Ia - AIN.,f fbn.y hlN
and that they win be prepared to treat
with the Chinese env0ys Immediately upon
their arrival. 1t will take Mr. Foster near
ly thirty days to make the trip between
here and the place of meeting. Under the
most favorable circumstances he cannot
reach Yokohama before the 22d proximo'
and 10 do this he must catch the steamer
leaving Vancouver on the 9TH.
MIR. Foster an Authority.
Mr. Foster is regarded as one of the best
authorities in diplomatic affairs In TINS
country. and China is to be congratulated
upon her securing the services of so capa-
BILE an advisor. He has made the subject
of international law and the arts OF d.
plomacy a special study. and has had con-
siderable personal experience as dipio-
matte representative OF the United states
in addition to which he has at various
times acted as counsel in this country for
various foreign governments. 1t is said
that he has been for some time acting in
a legal capacity for the Chinese minister
in this city.
He is a personal friend of Chin. the head
of the Chinese commission, and his APP
pointment was probably suggested by that
official. The Friendship of these two gen
tlemen began many years ago, when chin
represented the celestial kingdom at this
capital. Mr.. Foster was a guest of Mr..
Chin on his recent visit to China and has
been in correspondence with him since
then.
The employment Of Hon. John w. Foster,
formerly Secretary of State, to aid the
Chinese governments plenipotentlaries in
peace negotiations is not the first time that
foreigners have been called into assist
plenipotentiares in matters like these as
beth China and Japan heretofore have had
recourse to such assistance. In the case
of the latter government 1t is said that the
questions of fact and detail were settled
by the Japanese themselves, the foreigners
merely being present in a legal and advi-
sorry capacity.
Whether there will be a suspension of
hostilities pending the meeting of the rep
resentatives of the two governments is
not known at the Japanese legation here.
The impression seems to be here that the
Japanese troops are concentrating at New
Chwang, which the Chinese forces have
recently evacuated, and that the victori-
Gus army will continue it's march in the
direction of Pexn. The question of an
armistice after the plenpotentiaries have
convened and pending an agreement as to
terms of peace will depend on the powers
which the Chinese ambassadors possess.
If they are simply plenipotentiaries ad
referendum and their recomm endations
have to be sent back to China for approval
or disapproval, a long time necessarily
must elapse before terms of peace can be
concluded If, on the other hand, their
powers are conclusive and the actions OF
its representatives binding on China, the
Japanese will be disposed to grant larger
concessions in the matter of suspension
Of hostlites.