The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-03
DANGER THREATENS PEACE
" On to Pekin" May Become the
Slogan.
JAPAN MAY RENEW FIGHTING
Japan May Decline Further Post
ponement of the Negotiations.
May Not Wait MIR. Fosters
Arrival. Suspicious OF
Chinese Good Faith.
BY Southern Associated Press.

threatens the peace negotiations be.
sween China and japan. and from
present Indications 1t is exceedingly
probable that the hostlities may be
renewed with even greater vigor,
and the cry Of "on to Pekin" orce
more become the slogan of the
Japanese forces.
Despite q prevailing belief to The
contrary, it is not unlikely that the
Japanese government will decline to
make further postponement of the
sctunl commencement of the nego
slatlons in order to await the arrival
of Mr.. John w. Foster, the Chinese
advisory counsel, and it is improba-
ole that arrangements for the settle
ment of the dispute will have been
completed before Mr.. Foster rea ches
his destination.
MIR. Foster will sail from Van.
couver on January 9th, providing
ne is not anow bound, aud is due III
Yokohama January 18th or 20th.
Two days will give him ample time
30 reach HIroschima, so that the
Chinese cannot ask for Il postpone.
ment after the 22d instant. The
Swo Chinese ambassadors of pence
are due in Shanghai on January 9th
and expect to reach Hiroschima on
abe 9th, and the probability is that
shey will be asked to begin the
negotiations without delay
The danger that threatens the set
slement, which hns seemed such a
certainty. will arise Mt this point, for
ahe Japanese Government will re-
ause, without doubt, to agree to any
semporlHlug on the plea that MIR.
Coster has not arrived. aud the
Chinese Ambassadors cannot pro.
ceed without his assistance.
t may be stdtcd with some de-
gree OF positiveness that direct de-
cliuation by tue Chinese Ambassa
dors to begin the negotiations until
Mr.. Foster reaches Hlroschnma will
result in positive disagreement and
she breaking OF of the overtures.
which will place the possibilities for
Heace farther away than ever and
cause the Japanese forces 10 push
sheir way with grenter yigor toward
ahe Chinese capital. In that event
nothlng short of the fall OF PekIn is
likely to put an end to hostilities.
II has been known for some time
shat the Japanese Government is
eusplclous of the good faltn of their
eremles IN the overtures for n sus-
pension Ell the WAY. First came the
Detring affair. in which DR.. Detring
WAS sent 10 Japan os.cnsibly for the
purpose of making terms OF peace.
but renlly armed only with "a letter
Srom The Chinese Court, TO use his
own expression, directing him 10
make "InquIr. into the prospects
aor Il settlement.
When MIR. behring's mission failed,
ahe overtnres on which the present
negotiations are based, were made
by China to Japan through MIR.
Oenby, the American Minister nj
?ekln. and Mr.. Dun. the American
Minister ut Toxic, Japan expressed
u Willingness TO trent with Chluu. If
she Pekln government would send
nn Ambassador, duly accredited and
armed with tull power to negotiate
o peace treaty.
To this The Chinese Govetnmop.
cent answer that it could hardly
agree to such proposition until If
knew the basic upon which the
japanese wished the lrangelueul
Tor peace to bo made
Already inclined to look with sns.
Ticion Oh the Chinese professions of
good faith. the japanese govern.
ment found in this answer ample
confirmation of It's growing belief
that the Chinese government was
attempting to ascertain whnt their
emenies would seek to exact from
them rs Indemnity. in order to be
prepared with arguments TO secure
q modification, and 1t was for this
season that Viscount Mutsu. the
Japanese Minister of Foreign AT
fairs, declined to have further deal.
snGs with Pekin on the subject uu.
ell the peace ambassador was up.
pointed.
Alter some delay China appointed
not one, but two envoys, aud 1t wa,
ahought the negotiations would be.
gin IN very short time. But few
gays ago the appointment OF MIR.
oster WAS upnounceu us counsel to
she Chlneso Ambassadors, and 1t Is
DeIieVeu thhc the Chinese enyoys
VIII ask Nlscount Mutsu to suspend
she commencement OF actual nepo-
hatlons until MIR. Foster has arrived
1T tho place OF meeting.
Ihe Japanese Peace Commission.
pfs are not likely to give any formal
yecognition to Mr.. Foster. He cer
tainly will not be allowed to attend
the slttln8s OF the commission. nro.
yided he arrives at Hiroshima before
Ss business - concluded, and if fre.