The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-08
SECRETS ARE GUARDED
HOW THE JAPS CONDUCT PUBLIC
AFFAIRS.
One of the BIikado's Ministers Talks of
the Peace Proposition In the
Orient.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. TX. Kato, the
newly appointed Japanese minister to
Great Britain, has arrived from Japan
on the steamer China. Kato is one of
the most distinguished and able diplo-
mats in the Japanese service. He had
lately been minister of the bureau OF
politics in the department OF foreign
affaire in Tokio-the position filed by
Kurino until bis appointment to the
Office Of minister to the United States.
He will succeed Viscount Kaoki az the
Japanese minister to the court of St.
James. Viscount Kaoki has been fill
ing the two offices of minister to Great
Britain and Germany, and to relieve
him of share of his burdsnsome duties
kato has been given the British mission.
Viscount Kaoki will remain in Berlin.
when | left Japan" said the new
minister, "the Chinese government waa
making overtures for peace, but, as you
have probably been informed, nothing
has been accom- plished. The Japanese
to receive the Chinese plsnipotentia-
ries and negotiate treaty of peace,
bnt my last advices are to the effect
that China would not agree to the
meeting being held in Japan. China
preferred that Jepan's representatives
go over to China. bnt Japan insists
that the plenipotentaries of China
should meet her own representatives on
Japanese soil eince it is China euing for
peace and not Japan. Just what the
outcome of the present negotiations will
be it is difficult to surmise.
"Our armies are still prosecuting the
war in China. Overtures we're made bv
China for an armistice pending the
settlement of the negotiations for peace,
but Japan naturally declined to grant
that favor. 1t would give China n adj
vantage to which ehs is not entitled,
and there will be no cessation of HOSTILE
ties until the final settlement OF treaty
of peace"
Mr.. Kato said that no official an
nouncement or intimstion of the terma
under which Japan would agree TO a
cessation OF the war had been made
thus far.
Various stories have been tele.
grsphed the world over, designed to
show the amount Of the indemnity
asked by Japan" he said, but can say
that not even the Chinese government
knows what Japan will dem and. The
aecrets of the various departments of
the Japanese government are carefully
guarded. know this much, however,
China has asked the Japsnese govern
ment for statement Of what indem-
nifty it would require "a a condition for
the cessation of hostilitiss, and the re.
ply made to China was that the matter
would only be discussed when China
consented to send plenipotentiaries to
Japan to negotiate peace treaty"
Mr.. Kato says that in the absence of
any agreement between the two powers
for the termination of the war, Japan
will continue to prosecute its campaign
in China this winter, with unrelenting
vigor, though he does not expect to see
the Chinese capital taken while the cold
weather lasts.
Just before I leff Japan" he said,
I'VE received word of the capture of Hal
Chen. which ia on the road to Moukden.
The first army ia pressing on to Mouk-
den and it is confidently expected that
the historic seat OF the Manchu dynasty
will auccu NIB TO the invading army be-
fore Long," Minister Kato will leave for
the east this evening.