The San Francisco call., 1895-05-20
TRADE WITH CHINESE.
Markets of the Celestial King
dom Will Be Invaded by the
Conquerors.
SLAUGHTER OF TONG HAKs
Severe Measures Adopted by the
Government in Suppressing
the Rebellion.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 19.-The
latest budgets of mail received at the
Japanese, Chinese and Korean legations at
Washington give much space to the
changed conditions resulting from the war.
Lord Ii, son of Ii Hung Chang, is ex-
pected to be the new Chinese Minister to
Japan. The peace settlement will soon be
followed by restoration of diplomatic
relations.
Mr.. Otori. now member of the japanese
Privy Council, is mentioned as a probable
Minister to China. He was formerly Min
lister to China and knows the country
thoroughly. In an interview Mr.. Otori
says that, the Japanese having acquired
commercial access to China, it will need
much tact to carry on trade with the Chi
nese. He says British merchants have
already pretty we'll occupied Southern
China, which is the pest field, so that the
Japanese had better turn their attention
to the northern country, where the mar
kets are comparatively untouched, al
though they supply millions of natives.
He gives all the details of the Chinese
trade, showing, among other things, that
the natives never pay cash for goods. They
are scrupulously honest, and have their
regular paydays on May 5, July Is and
December 13. The talk in Japan shows
the conquests by its armies are to be fol-
lowed by an equally vigorous commercial
campaign by the merchants.
Korea has passed through troublous times
of late. The Foreign Ministers feared an
outbreak and armed guards were stationed
at all legations. There were thirty United
States marines with Minister Sill at Seoul.
Now quiet has been restored and the armed
guards Withdrawn.
The trouble followed the rebellion of the
Tong Haks. In suppressing them the Gov
ernment used great severity. A traveller
lately returned frem the disturbed districts
reports that wherever he went he saw
houses burned down, corpses of murdered
people and towns desolated and abandoned.
This brought on a mob agitation which
threatened Seoul and led to the armed de-
tense of the legations. The authorities at
Seoul are trying the ringleaders, and there
is liability that thev will be deca apitated.
The loan of 100000 yen which Japan
made to Korea in order to put the country
on its feet has begun to be paid Half a
million was paid over the first of last
month and the remaining 2,5OO, 900 is SUBJ
ject to call by Korea.
The Japanese are looking over the pos
sessions they have recently acquired. A
large force of expert surveyors are at work
in and around Port Arthur, with the pur-
pose OF finishing the survey by July, al
though these plans may be altered, now
that the permanent possession of Port
Arthur has been given up on account of
the protests of European powers.
The investigation as to the islands of
Formosa and the Pescadores has not been
encouraging. Tie Chinese natives on the
Pascadores seem to be a race of blind
people, about half of them cropping about
unable to see. The place is almost solid
mass of coral. 1t is used for building
houses, ETC., giving beautiful red appear
ance to everything, which, however, is
offset by the absence OF trees or verdure
from the soil and by the blindness every
where.
Formosa gives better prospects and al
ready capital is being invested to put in
large sugar refneries, which will, it is
said, add new element to the worlds