The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-10
HISTORY OF THE VAR.
Some Interesting Inform alton Pttrchdse d
by the state Department.


WASHINGTON, D. c., May 9.-The
State Department has just purchased an
appendix to the volume of foreign rela-
tons of 1894, comprising a history OF
the Chinese-Japanese War. Our connec-
ton in this matter first appears in dis
patch dated June %, last year, from Mr..
Uhl, acting secretary, to United States
Minister Sill at Seoul, in which he says:
"In view of the friendly interest of the
United States in the welfare of Korea and
its people you are, by direction of the
President, instructed to use every possible
effort for the preservation of peaceful con-
ditions.''
Mr.. Sill replied that he would do as
much as possible in the interest of peace A.;
that neither the japanese nor the Chinese
troops would withdraw, although the re-
bellion had been suppressed by the Ko-
reans; that the Japanese were stubborn,
the Japanese seeming to desire war, and
that Korean integrity was menaced.
At this point Charles DENLY, our Charge
at Peking, enters the field in a report to
Secretary Gresham describing the prepare
tons for war, and saying that the action of
Japan is criticized there as being unduly
bellicose. On July 2, the Korean Minister
here appeared at the State Department,
and, by the direction of his Government,
appealed to Secretary Gresham to call a
powerful conference to prevent conflict.
Mr.. DENLY on July 8 cabled that the
Viceroy desired him to telegraph to Wash
ington to take the initiative to urge the
powers to unite in requesting the japanese
Government to withdraw its troops from
Korea. On July 8, Sill cabled that the
Korean Minister at Washington had
cabled his Government that Secretary
Gresham has advised him to protest
against the demand of the japanese Min
lister, for great reforms, made under duress
and to notify the Foreign Minister. Secre-
tary Gresham very promptly cabled, say
ing he had told the Korean Minister that
our Government could not entertain the
proposal and not advising Korea to pro-
test and notify the powers.
On July Secretary Gresham sent long
letter to ambassador Bayard at London
giving a statement of what had occurred
IN Washington and the extent to which
our Government had exercised its good
offices in the interest of peace. He told
of the appeals of the Korean Minister, and
said that he had informed him that, while
the United States sympathized with
Korea, he must maintain absolute impair
TALLY; conld exercise our influence with
japan in friendly way, and in no way
could interfere jointly with other powers.
He also detailed an interview he had
with the japanese Minister here,
in which he had informed the Min
lister that it would be very gratifying to the
United States if Japan would deal kindly
and fairly with her feeble neighbor, whose
helplessness entitled her to our sympathy.
In answer to the appeal of the Chinese
Minister the Secretary had replied that a
course was open to China which had been
adopted by other powers, namely: an
offer to settle by friendly arbitration
On October 6 Mr.. Goschen, the British
Charge d'Affaires here, telegraphed from
New London to ascertain whether the
United States Government would join with
England, Germany, France and Russia in
Intervention on the basis of the guarantee