The San Francisco call., 1895-05-22
For a Time the Ministers Sue
ceeded i'm Deluding the
People.
THEN YIELDED GRACEFULLY
Army Officers at First Furious by
the Withdrawal From
Manchuria.

ID. W; 4hdy Z1J-1lSIOry mas moved WIFI
extraordinary rapidity during the past two
weeks. The newly established peace has
been endangered, and complications of far
greater magnitude than any produced by
the contest between China and Japan have
threatened to involve at least three Euro
pean powers in a desperate struggle for
supremacy in Eastern Asia. For several
days the attitude of Japan indicated
resolution to set the enormous odds against
her at defiance. Then, with suddenness
which most watchful observers are unable
TO explain, the spirit of resistance subsidized
r and complete submission was promised to
the harsh demands of the hostile league.
In spite of the avowed willingness to yield
to superior force, an unlooked-for delay
on the part of China in meeting her obliga-
,tions awakened fears of a revived conflict
between the Asian empires, but at the last
moment this calamity was averted, and no
further apprehensions of war are enter
tanned. Much remains to be adjusted by
diplomatic agencies, and grave domestic
dissensions in Japan are more than pos
sible, but no resort to arms is anticipated
in any quarter.
Although most exciting events have been
in progress since the last week in April,
the people OF Japan have TO this day only
vague suspicion of their nature. Nothing
has been made public, and, so far as l am
aware, only one American journalist, the
correspondent of the Associated Press and
the New York World, has been permitted
to share the secrets of the Government.
What is herein related will, therefore, be
understood as still unknown in this part
of the world except to official and diplo-
matte circles. An outline of the facts has
been freely sent abroad, but the general
community in Japan remains in utter
ignorance.
AS soon as the Government was in
formed of the determination of Russia,
Germany and France to forbid the acouisi-
tion of territory by the Japanese on the
continent, majority of the Cabinet
Ministers assembled at Kioto, to which
city the Emperor had transferred his
court from Hiroshima, ana measures were
taken to ascertain how far the men
aces of the allies were seriously
intended. Communications originally
handed to the Foreign Office at Toxic
were not oouched in peremptory
language, but the manner of their delivery
plainly showed that if the advice they
contained was not followed, compulsion
would be applied with very little delay.
Reports from the japanese representatives
at European capitals brought additional
proof that the powers were thoroughly in
earnest. The Russian and French Gov
ernments were firm in their declaration
that Japan must renounce Manchurian
territory, while the tone adopted by Ger
many was so Incorporate as to awaken
ho he
forcing quarrel with or without regard
to the pretext set forth. Japan next en-
deavored to gain the cooperation of Great
Britain in opposing the league, and there
are grounds for believing that if they had
succeeded, desperate resistance would
have been offered. But neither England
nor any other great power could be in
duced to take up arms on Japan's behalf.
Kindly messages were received from Italy
to the extent of giving assurance that if the
United States would offer mediation, the
Southern European kingdom would act in
concert. but it soon appeared that
Japan only had her own resources to rely
upon. When this was fully realized,
the Government straightway decided to
avoid further contest and devote its ener-
gies to securing the best terms of accom-
mediation. This decision. however, was
not divulged to any one but the Ministers
in immediate attendance upon the SOW
ereign. Those who remained in Toxic, as
well as all subordinatesofficials were left
in doubt as to the contemplated purpose,
and most of them rather gathered the i'm
:. preston that long and strong tussle
would take place before any sign of yield
ing would be given.
Until the expiration of the armistice or
at least until the ratifcations of the treaty
with China were exchanged, Japan could
not properly be called upon to declare
herself, and in the meantime dextrous
diplomacy might find many means of i'm
proving the japanese position or weaken
ing that of the confederates. That the
Ministers in Kioto were busily engaged in
this very work every one hoped and
believed. In point of fact, however,
nothing effective was done in this direc-
ton. 1t is understood that almost
from the beginning the Emperors
advisers were in favor of submitting, with
the solitary exception of Viscount Mutsu,
who opposed his associates with all the
force he could command, but whose dis
tressing illness made it impossible for him
to assert his customary influence. Not
only the heads of most of the civil depart
ments, but the military and naval leaders
agreed as to the futility of resistance and
the necessity of speedy surrender. Their
reasons for the adoption of this remarkable
course are yet to be heard, but whatever
the explanations be. it is certain that their
countrymen will not forgive them for what
will be denounced as sacrifice of the ma
tional honor when the truth is universally
known.
General Yamagata, head of the War
Office, was dispatched in haste to Man
churia to notify the chiefs of the armies
+. what was in store and to gather their
opinion as to the expediency of yielding
without struggle. His own mind was made
up before he started from Japan and he
seems to have found little difficulty in con-
verting most of the corps commanders to
his views. Some of th en-, however, are said
to have objected strenuously. General
Nozu and Northumberland Yamaji
went so far, according to report, as to as
sert that if the orders to retire were sent