The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
Conclusion of the Negotiations Prob-
ably fastened by the Attitude OF
the European Powers.
OPINIONS OF DIPLoMATEs
NOTHING DEFINITE YET KNOWN RE-
GARDING THE FINAL TERMS.
Japan's Claim for Indemnity said to
Have Been Reduced IoO, 900 900 Yen
800 Deaths from Cholera.

day reports that the Japanese have pre-
sented ultimatum to Viceroy LII Hung
Chang, the Chinese peace commissioner
demanding tha. China accept or refuse the
terms offered by Japan no later than to-
morrow. The Mercury adds that Japan
has reduced her claim for a money in
demnity by the sum of 100,oo00oO yen. and
that she is also satisfied with the cession
of the peninsula or which Port Arthur is
situated. and will not demand any addi-
tional territory. 1t is reported that tho
peace party is willing to accept these
terms, but that the Human party is hold
ing OUT
The statement that Japan had given Ii
Hung Chang ultimatum to accept or
reject the final peace terms by tomorrow
is conceded by dipIomates here as present.
ing the latest phase of the question and as
clearing up Misrepresentation on the subject
tary of the Japanese legation. who said
that while the legation had nothing fur
Shanghai report appeared to be consistent
with the status of affairs as understood at
the legation, The armistice ran for seven
days more, he said, and yet Japan doubt
less did not want the final agreement post
poned until the last hour. The army would
be held in abeyance until then, but it
would be quite desirable the agreement
should be definitely made before then in
order that there should be no cmbarrass-
ment In holding the army dependent on q.
sudden determination seven days hence.
The negotiations had at first brought out
what Japan expected and what China was
willing to yield. In order to adjust the
differences. between these positions the
sions. These represented the largest con-
cesslons possible. and were in the nature
OF OF an ultimatum. It was intended to bring
the question to definite conclusion before
the armistice had expired.
The Chinese legation has received no con-
nrmat1oH of the advices from Japan that
a peace understanding had been reached,
and there is a strong disposition on the part
premature. An ominous lull has occurred
since the first brief dispatch came from
reached. As Yet the concessions leading fas to
the agreement have not been reported and
It IS stated that they will not be made
conclusion. of peace negotiations are draw
ing to a climax the. eyes of European pow
ritory in the East and a sharp game OF
diplomacy is on in which the European
something from the treaty proceedings
There is no doubt that China has appealed
to TO- Russia 4. and @ other European nations
posed An interesting point. therefore.
arises as to whether the unmistakab. 2
nation for intervention by the powers was
antecedent subsequent to the peace un-
derstanding reported yesterday between
The view of the State Department Of
ficals is that the advices from Russia are
really based on the status of the peace nego-
tfations several days ago and that since
then the Japanese conditions have been ma
such Shape as to make them more agrcea-
BILE to Russia or the other great Europeans
patches, among the original Japanese de-
mands was one for the absolute cession or
Port Arthur. Although not specifically
the cession of a considerable tract of coun-
try in the vicinity of the port. AS Port
province of Manchuria this demand. If per-
sisted in. would conflict directly with the
ginning of hostilities, and repeated more
than once since, in a semi-official manner.
to-wit: That she could not permit permit the
officiaIs of the state Department are
confident that within the last few days the
japanese demand on this point has been
modified so as to permit only temporary
long as the war indemnity shall remain un-
paid. To such stipulation 1t Is said no
reasonable objection could be made, as 1t
Germany in imposing terms of peace uTon
France, when she retained the great
French fortress of Belfort until the in
demnity was paid The practical effect of
this in that case was to cause the French
to pay the enormous war indemnity. in q
space of time far shorter than was allowed
by the treaty in order to escape the humil-
iation of foreign occupancy OF French ter ter
liar course in respect to Port Arthur
the Russian government will make sure
enar occupied Sns port % will be evacuated Within
fixed period of time. 1t is also pointed out
msnd man as the ten temporary possession of Port
Arthur a means of securing herself
against retaliatory war by China until
the feeling of resentment may have worn
away, for by the occupation OF this STRAIT
egic position the Chipese would find II al
most impossible to keep communication
open between Peking and the sea in case of
a renewal of hostilities. On the whole, the
,nl; nf tfnnl gaa nothing in this
news from Russia calculated to prevent the
eonsummation of peace, unless 1t should
from the terms already practically agreed
on, in the hope of securing better treat
ment from Japan while the latter nation
is under apprehension of Russian interven-
AT the Chinese legation it said to-
gar,iing the report cabled from Shanghai
chat Japan had given China one day in
sswhich to accept or refsse the terms OK
\ peace.
How the Armfstics Was Arranged.
VICTORIA. b. c.. April ls-The steam
ship Sikh. fourteen days from Yokohama.
arrived to-day. The Associated Press cor
respondent, writing March 81. says:
The subject of Ii Hung Changs long
telegrams TO Peking on March p is now
known Before his departure from China
the Japanese had signihed in emphatic
language that no proposal for an armistice
could be considered at the conference, but,
yoy pleaded earnestly for this boon that
Count Ito finally consented to name certain
conditions upon which temporary sus-
pension of military movements might be
granted These conditions were that the
Taku forts should be Immediately occupied
by a Japanese force and the control OF
the railway from Shan Hal kwan and
Tien-Tsin surrendered. 1t is reported that
Li displayed greater anxiety with regard 10
the truce than concerning the ultimate
provisions for peace. The response CT the
Chinese court to Japan's proposition Is not
known, for, the Emperor at Hiroshima sud-
denly took the direction of this part OF the
business into his own hands. lie sum-
noned Count Ito to an audience and an
nounced his voluntary concession of
armistce without imposing conditions OF
any kind. in order TO show his conscious
ness of the annoyance and embsrrassmcne
suffered by the ambassadors In consequence
of the delay in the negotiations.
500 Deaths from Cholera.
LONDON, April 1S.-The Pail Mall Ga
zette this afternoon publishes a dispatch
from Hioga. Japan. which says that ad-
vices from the Pescadore islands state that
the Japanese forces are still at those
Islands awaiting reinforcements. and that
over eight hundred deaths from cholera