Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-08-10
JAPAN'S PRETENSJONS
Might Draw the United States Into
War In Certain Contingencies.
Navy Department Neutral In
: Chinese Troubles.


WASHINGTON, Aug l0-In the event of
United States may find itself an unwilling
party unless the Japanese retreat from
position which they assumed toward the
United States during the last war with
China.
IL Is not generally known that just be-
fore the declaration Of the armistice which
preceded the signature OF the treaty OF
peace an issue had grown up between the
United States and Japan that threatened
TO lead To actual hostilities between the
two countries, and that a hostile clash
was perhaps only averted by the con-
clusion of the Chinese war.
This issue arose through the assertion by
the japanese authorities of the right to
search American vessels. They insisted
that they had right to search an Ameri-
can vessel. and II they chose to take from
her any Chinese or any enemy they might
find, even though they were but pas
sengers. Minister Dun very promptly
denied the existence Of any such right on
the part OF a combatant, and u hot CORE
spondence ensued.
The Japanese insisted on their right,
and even when Mr. Dun reminded them
that the United States had gone to war
with Great Britain on just this ISSUE and
had forced the abandonment of any claim
60 such a right, they refused TO abate their
pretensions one jot, though the minister
intimated that the first assertion Of such
o right would be regarded by the United
States as an unfriendly act.
The Chinese Troubles.
Consul General Jernigan has taken q
great deal of interest In the recent Chinese
troubles and has sent several dispatches
90 the state department giving infOrma-
tion and making suggestions for pro-
lection.
1t Is the impression among some officials
that the consuls, without being fully
aware OF the situation, have asked for
troops from the warships where 1t would be
impracticable for vessels to go. The state
department has not called upon the navy
Tor any ship or force to land and proceed
into the interior.
Minister DENLY has authority to call
upon Admiral Carpenter for United
States forces, and under his instructions
the admiral Is bound to furnish them.
Both state and navy departments believe
that the United States repre- sentatives on
the ground, clothed with ample powers,
are better able to act for the best than
those here in Washington.
Acting Secretary McAdoo said yesterday
that he could give Admiral Carpenter no
instructions, and especially as Minister
DENLY had not asked that anything be
done. AS to the suggestion that the ad-
.miral should send force In boats, he said
that the minister and admiral were better
able to know whether such course was
wise. 1t might be a sacrifice Of men to
send them several hundred miles into the
interior
The British government had more cause
for making demonstration than the
United States government, and yet no
English force had been sent to the scene of
the trouble. Mr.. McAdoo said that an or
der from him to Admiral Carpenter might
wholly interfere with plans or operations
the commander had in view or under way
Americans at Shanghai have sent q
cable dispatch to President Cleveland pro.
testing against United States Minister
Denby's action in consenting that the
British consul should represent America
IN the Sze-Chuen inquiry. They recon-
mended reconstruction Of the commission
by sending an American official Of ad-
equate rank and the exclusion of impli-
Gated Chinese officials. They also recon-
mend that a marine escort accompany the
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