The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-18
THE WAR AT AN END
FIRST REPORTS FROM JAPAN con-
FIRMED By LATER DISPATCHES.
Latest Revision OF the Terms of Peace
elimination that Germany and 9th.
err Powers Will Protest.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Chinese
imperial edict. cabled last night from Tien-
Tsin. is accepted among officials and diplo-
mates here setting at rest the conflict
ing reports to final terms of peace and
as showing that the first reports via Lon
don, were inaccurate in their details. The
indemnity of 2o0000,0o0 taeis is compro-
mise. Japan first demanded 800, COS. 900 taels.
but on the solicitation of Prince Ii threw
off 1o0,000,00o. AT the Chinese legation it is
stated that the tael varies in value but
that the present value of the customs treas
ury tael, which is undoubtedly the one in
which payment will be made, is $50 in
Mexican silver. or about 10 cents in gold.
This would make the indemnity equivalent
to $500, 900 Mexican silver or s150,0c0 900
in gold. The Mexican trade dollar is the
current coin of China and the basis of cal
culation, that the belief is very strong,
though information on the subject is lack
ing, that the payment will be in silver.
The edict that Japan is to occupy the
Lao Tung peninsula up to the fortieth de-
gree of latitude settles the important point
that she is to have, for time. the great
fortress of Port Arthur and the Immediate
in these dispatches. The Lao Tung PENN
ward into the gulf of Pe-Chi-Li with Port
Arthur at its extreme point The fortieth
land where the little s' peninsula broade a
into the main land of Manchuria. This
lower peninsula has the shape of a sword
and is known as Regents sword" japan
will only occupy this territory until the in
demnity is paid L., This :; win give Japan
Picking, and virtually military command
over China as long as the occupation lasts.
of Formosa has been settled for some time.
The opening of Peking and four new ports
to commerce marks the Introduction of
n6npr fhA6c Sy,fn f1n fv,fA -tn
Japan has gained the privilege of estab-
fishing her cotton and other factories in
Japanese capital win invest in these enter
prises, or the Chinese will buy these mod
ern fabrics the edict makes G significant
alliance, offensive and defensive, which, IL
consummated, would have given "the Orient
Chinese otficials in Washington have never
credited si. the repors. Of this alliance o,,,.
has been heard from in an announcement
of the conclusion of a treaty of peace be-
tween China and Japan but he apparent
~ does not know on what terms the agree
ment has been reached, for he has nothing
specific to say upon that point. The Chi
equal ignorance as, TIC the exact condi-
tions. 1t is believed here that Japan has
secured the abolition of the liken tax, by
which Is meant the tax imposed upon goods
transported from one point In China to
another in addition to the regular customs
tax. This has been the object of all Occi-
dental dlplomates accredited to China for
many years, and the officials of the State
Department feel that all civilized nations
will owe debt of gratitude to Japan for
thus removing most onerous burden on
their commerce with China for 1t is not
believed that the concession would be made
In the interest OF Japan alone. Should
Japan. however, be the only beneficiary
regards this tax, it Is fully expected that
a strong protest will be made by the pow
which would be greatly handicapped in
the. competition with Japan for Chinese
trade, unless they could claim the same
exemption under Favored
nation clauses OF their treaties The loss
Of the liken tax will be very severely felt
by China. 1t averages about twelve million
taels per annum, and China will
supply the deficit In revenue
with great difficulty. The total
revenues of the country were estimated by
a competent British consular officer, in
1883, at So, 200, 0G0 taels per anDum. and as
the customs taxes are limited by treaty
to per cent ii is matter of much spec
ulation as to how the country will raise
the large indemnity demanded by Japan.