The record-union., 1895-05-20
Special to the RECORp-UNIoN.

WASHINGTON, May 19-The latest
budgets of mail received at the Japanese,
Chinese and Corean Legations at WASH
ington give much space to the changed
conditions resulting from the war. Lord
Ii, son of Lii Hung Chang, is expected to
be the new Chinese Minister to Japan.
The peace settlement will soon be fol-
lowed by restoration of diplomatic rela-
tions.
Mr.. Otori, now a member of the Jap
anese Privy Council, is named as prob
able Minister to China. He was formerly
Minister to China, and knows the coun-
try thoroughly. In an interview Mr..
Otori tells that the Japanese have ac-
quired commercial access to China, but 1t
will need much tact to carry on trade
with the Chinese. He says British mer-
chants have already pretty well occupied
Southern China, which is the best field.
SO that the Japanese had better turn their
attention to the northern country, where
the markets are comparatively un-
touched. although they supply millions
of natives.
He gives all the details of the Chinese
trade, showing among other things that
the natives never pay cash tor goods.
They are scrupulOusly honest, and have
their regular pay days on May 9th, July
18th and December 18th. The talk in
Japan shows that the conquests of its
armies are to be followed by an equally
vigorous commercial campaign by the
merchants.
Corea has passed through troublesome
times OF late. The foreign Ministers feared
an outbreak, and armed guards were
stationed at all legations. There were
thirty United States marines with Minis
ter Sill at Seoul. Quiet has been restored,
and the armed guards Withdrawn. The
trouble followed the rebellion OF the Tong
Haks. In suppressing them the Govern
mont used great severity.
A traveller who lately returned from the
disturbed district reports that wherev er
he went be saw many houses burned
down, corpses of murdered people and
towns desolated and abandoned. This
brought on mob agitation, which threat
ened Seoul and led to the armed defense
OF the legations. The authorities at Seoul
are trying the rinRleaders. and there is a
liability that they will be decapitated.
The influence which Japan is now ex-
erting in the undermining of Corea is in-
dicated by the formation of a court coun-
Gil to look after the suffering from the
recent outbreak. or this council OF six
members there are three Coreans and
three Japanese.
The Corean Government devised
recently ali unique means of raising
much needed revenue. Observing that
Japan was making heavy demands on
China, and that China was not in a condi-
tion to resist, the acting Minister of Pub
lie Works of Corea suggested to Count
Inouye, the Japanese Envoy, that Corea
should also put in claim for damages
against China. Hearing that China's ar
bitrary course had brought on the war,
and rs Corea has suffered many calami-
Ties therefrom, he urged also that be
should personally undertake the duty of
negotiating and of meeting Ii Hung
Chang at Shimonoseki, where the Japa-
nese-Chinese terms were then being ar
ranged. Count Inouye discouraged the
peoject, and it was not executed.
The loan OF 1900, 900 yon which Japan
made to Corea in order to put the country
on its feet has begun to be paid. Half
million was turned over the first of last
month, and the remaining two and half
millions is subject to call by Corea.
The Japanese are looking over the pos
sessions they have lately acquired. A
large force Of expert surveyors are at
work in and around Port Arthur, with
the purpose of finishing the survey by
July. although these plans may be
altered, now that the permanent possess
sion OF Port Arthur has been given up on
account Of the protests of European
powers. The investigation as to the
islands of Formosa and Pescadores has
not been encouraging. The Chinese
natives on the Pescadores seem to be a
race of blind people. about half of them
cropping about unable 10 see. The place
is almost solid mass Of coral. 1t is used
for building houses, ETC., giving beau,i-
full red appearance TO everything, which,
however. is offset by the absence Of trees
or verdure from the soil, and by the
blindness everywhere. Formosa gives
better prospects, and already capital is
being invested TO put in large sugar re-
tineries, which will, it is said, add a new
element to the worlds sugar production.
LONDON, May 19.-The Times to-mor-
row will publish dispatch from Tien
Tsin which says that Lii lien Fang, son
of Ii Hung Chang, has been appointed
committee TO hand over the island of For
mosa to Japan.