The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-03

Peking to San Francisco. March 2--The
Japanese government has published
series OF documents exposing the pre-
lenses OF the Chinese peace ENJOYS and
explaining the attitude and action OF the
commissioners appointed to receive them.
The first paper OF Importance is the de-
cree appointing Count Ito and yiseoant
Mutsu as representatives of the emperor
OF Japan. and investing them with iail
powers In strict accordance with the usage
OF civilized nations. Following this is The
mandate of the emperorgof China to his
agents. Chang and Ssiao. which was SUBJ
mitted at Hiroshima In evidence OF the
position held by these functionaries. and
which. after recsting the names and Offices
OF the messengers. proceeds thus:
You are appointed plenipotentiaries TO
meet and negotiate with plenipoten.iaries
IN Japan You viii communicate by teie-
graph with the Tspngliyamen. and will
then receive our commands. which you
VIII obey The officials who accompany
you are under sour control. Be diligent
and faithful in fulfillment of our trust
Respect this as our special command"
IL has been recorded that on discovering
the imperfect character OF the Chinese
credentials. the japanese commissioners
called q meeting. at which the visitors
were informed that no negotiations could
he permitted on the uncertain basis OF
their instructions. The address delivered
TO them by Count Ito is included I'm the
papers now given forth. 1t disclaims all
responsibility on the part of Japan for
the awkward position OF affairs, and ex-
presses regret that China should have
pursued course which. though not un-
precedentcd In her history. Is disapproved
by the great body OF nations Count Ito
refers TO ttss numerous occasions on which
China has repudiated the acts of her dip
lomatic agents. and states that In conse-
quence of these notorious violations of
good faith IL has been stipulated that no
embassy would be received at Hiroshima
unless provided with complete authorize
ton TO arrange terms Of peace. The Chi
nese government had promised absolute
compliance with Japan's demand. and
given positive assurance that the ambas-
sadors held full powers. Notwithstanding
this pledge. the imperial letter of instruc-
tions conferred no power whatever, ex-
cept that OF reporting TO the Tsungliya-
men what the two japanese statesmen
might say. Under these circumstances Ii
would be impossible TO enter upon nego-
tiations. But IL China should hereafter
prove her sincere desire for peace by
deputing responsible officials and invest
Ing them with genuine authority, the
question might be opened anew.
Having spoken in this spirit at some
length, Count Ito delivered to the en-
voys a memorandum--the last OF the
documents puhiished-calling attention to
the earnestness with which Japana had
insisted. through the ministers of the
United States In Tokyo and Peking. that
the embassy should bear ample powers:
10 the obvious inadeauacy of the Gre
dentials brought by Chang and Shao; and
to the impossihility of holding confer
ences with agents destitute OF the first
requisites OF their assumed position.
ON February 4. the entire Chinese party.
accompanied by Mr. Foster. left Hiro-
shima In the steamship Dwarf, detailed
by the Japanese government for their
transportation 10 Nagasaki voluminoGs
dispatches from China were awaiting
them at that port and. although they
held no communication with any person
outside their hotel, many significant re-
ports were put In circulation. alleging
first that Mr.. Foster had bitterly re-
preached the ambassadors for the decep-
tlcn they had practiced. not only upon
their adversaries. the Japanese. but also
upon him. their friend and counsellor;
and next, that he had threatened TO ahan-
don their cause altogether. unless China
would promptly agree TO send a properly
constituted and equipped commission 10
settle the dispute between the two eoun-
tries Tho Chinese party, including Mr..
Foster, sailed from Nagasaki on Fehru-
airy ts by a French mail steamer. The
that negotiations VIII soon
be reopenei I'm earnest appears 10 he JUS
;ifsed, first by the circumstance that the
American adviser continues In China's
service. and still more strongly by the
crushing defeat at weihaiwei.
The empress Of Japan has ordered that
ARTIFICIAL arms and legs be supplied at
her cost 10 all soldiers who lost those
members either In battle or through ex-
pesure to frost. Chinese prisoners brought
10 Japan who have similarly suffered are
Included in her bounty.
In consequence OF urgent representa-
tons EE toGh ttENNe. fbe hDrF&n gov
ernment has ordered the abolition OF all
forms OF torture, and prsclsimed that
hanging shall hereafter Re the sole
method Of capital puntshmeu, for orsiin-
ary criminals and shooting for those
by martial law.
The two American adventurers. Wilde
and Howte. who pledged what they called
their honor that they would not proceed
10 China In fuiinlmeTt ef their engage
rnent TO supply materials for the de-
strssctsan Of the japanese navy and we're
released from prison by The
yspanese government. are said TO he IN
high favor with Ii Hung Chang. at
Tseutsin. The ex-viceroy has expresses
great satisfaction with the result os soma
Of their experiments. and II IL reported
that certain deadly explosives used by
Aar,t-a, TsnS.s ships az welhaiwes were
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