The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-11

to asopt Is the logical and fyeyfsanse rs-
sult Of q situation for which We are In
no wiss responsible China has hitherto
held herself almost entirely aloof from
other powers. ard while she has Il, some
Instances enjoyed the advantages accrss-
Ing to her as member Of the family Of
nations she has perhaps more frequently
denied the responsibilities Of that ressfs6r.
She has pursued policy Of isolation ard
distrnsf. and consequently her external
relations have not been characterized BY
that franksss essential 70 good nefgnhor-
hood Instances ara not wanting IN which
Chinese commissioners. after formally
agreeing 10 International conpaefs. have
refused 70 affix their seals. and cases
might be cited in which treaties solemn
~ concluded have been unesreraonlousty
and without apparent reason rertsdiated
These unfortunate occurrences ind sum
cient explanation In the fact that China
was not on these occasions seriously in
earnest. bat beyond that Il might be said
with truth that the officials who were
designated 10 carry On the negotiations
ha9 not been clothed with the power
necessary for the purpose.
.-Is has from the FIRST been the wish Of
Japan TO avoid results which history
teaches are liable TO be the outcome OF
negotiations with Chinese officials who
are not clothed with fuii power In the
stood. Consequently fhe imperial govern
meat made Ii a condition precedent 10
any peace negotiations that the Chinese.
Observation-Disclosures should be furnished with
full power 70 conciude peace. and IL was
only upon receiving positive assurances
from the Chinese government that that
condition precedent had been compiled
with and that the Chinese pienipoien-
fiaries were on their way to Japan. that
his majesty the emperor of Japan con-
ferred upon my colleague and myself full
powers To conclude and sign preiiininaries
OF peace with the pienipotentiaries of
China. That your excellency's powers
are. Notwithstanding that assurance. ia
tally defective. Is TO me a sure Indication
that the government or China is rot yet
really soficitous for peace.
Criticism Is nearly exhausted by
simple comparison OF the two Instruments
which were feciprocaily exchanged at this
board yesterday. but II Is not out of
place 10 point out that one fulfiiis the de-
fHition which Is usually given aulone civ
ilized states to the term full powers
while the other is destitute of nearly all
those qualities which are regarded as es-
sential TO such powers: II even fails TO IN
dicate the subject upon which your excel
lencies are 10 negotiate; IL does not au-
thorize your excellencies 10 conclude or 20
sign anything; II rs silent on the subject
of the imperial ratification OF your excel
iencies' act. In short. IL would SEEM that
the authority which has been conferred
upon your excelieneies would be complete
iy fulfilled by your representing TO your
government what my colleague and my
self might have to say. In this situation
1t would be impossible for us to continue
the negotiations. II may be asserted that
usage Is entirely ignored In this instance.
cannot admit of the suf.iciency of such
explanation.
Il disclain any right to interfere with
the purely domestic customs of China, but
deem IL not only my right but my duty
TO insist that In international concerns
affecting my own country the peculiar
methods OF China shall not yet be the ssi-
perior rule OF International intercourse.
The restoration of peace Is matter of
the greatest Importance. To bring about
a re-establishment of amicabie relations
Ii Is not only necessary that treaties with
that object In view should be signed. but
IL is imperative that the engagements
should be fulfilled In good faith.
While Japan has found no reason to
approach China on the subject OF peace,
she nevertheless feels Bound. In Difference
to that civilization which she represents.
to listen to any bona fide overfures which
China may advance, but she will decline
10 take part In the future In any fruifiess
negotiations or become a party 10 q paper
peace. The terms Which Japan agrees TO
will he scrEpaioasiy observed by her, and
she will at the same time insist upon
like observance of the terms by China.
Whenever. therefore. China finds herself
seriously and sincerely desirous of peace,
and will conflde actual powers to Chinese
officials whose names and positions viii
serve as an assurance that the terms TO
which they may agree will he confirmed
and carried out in good faith, Japan viii
he prepared to enter upon new negotia-
tions."
The Negotiations Declared or.
Memorandum: THE imperial govern
ment has repeatedly declared through the
United States representatives at Tokyo
and Peking that the appointment of p,eni-
potentiaries with full powers TO conclude
peace were an indispensable prerequisite
TO negotiations on the subject OF peace.
His imperial majesty's plenipotentiaries.
however, find that the authorization
which their excellencies the plenipotcn-
tiaries of his majesty the emperor of
China communicated to them on the fst
instant is wholly inadequate for the rur-
pose for which IL Is claimed 1t was issued.
II lacks nearly all the essential attributes
OF full powers as usually understood. The
imperial government have not recedei
from the position which they announced
10 the representatives ef the United
States that they had taken on the subject
Of full powers, and the imperial Japanese
pienipotentiaries, having been intrusted
by his ma jesty the emperor Of Japan with
actual. proper and complete full powers.
cannot consent to treat with plsnpoten-
tlaries Of his majesty the emperor OF
China, who are only authorized 20 discuss
matters. to report 20 the Tsung Ii va
men and 10 obtain subsequent commands
of the throne bv which they are to be
guided. Under these circumstances il
only remains for the pienipotentiavies ~
his natcsiy the emperor OF Japan 10 de-