The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-24
A Glance at Their Credentials
Was Enough for Japan.
QUICKLY SENT HOME AeAlN.
John W. Fostsr Engaged in an open
Quarrel With His Clients.
To the Edificatfon OF Crowd on the
Street - HUT for Chinass Dilatory
Negotiations she Might Have Been
Spared the Humiliation OF the Loss
of Peking.

Tokyo, Feb. s.-Per steamer Gaelic to
San Francisco. Feb. s3-China.s at
tempt 10 negotiate for peace proved
even more fruisiess than had been an
.icipated. The Japanese are greatly dis
appointed at the failure OF the Chinese
government TO give its envoys proper
power to negotiate for peace. The
Tsung Ii Yamen were warned by all
the foreign diplomats. and especially
Minister Dun. at Tokyo. that unless the
envoys were given full power their er-
rand would be worse than useless. The
most positive pledges were given that
the envoys would be genuine pienipc-
tentiaries, with full power TO speak for
their sovereign. and IL is believed that
stronger pledges were given MIR. Foster.
The embassy came with the utmost
confidence. with small colony OF at
tendants. and food and clothing that
indicated an indefinite stay. Yet at the
first glance their credentials made 1t
evident that Their errand was a mere
pretense. Their duties were so inIpera-
lively limited that they could only fis-
ten to the conditions which japan
might propose. report them to Peking
and await further instructions. This
being the case the Japanese could only
dismiss them without even discussing
the peace proposition with them.
The ENJOYS were given two audiences
by the japanese commission. and Mr..
Foster was not allowed to be- present
at either. On February / their creden-
tia,s were examined and on the follow
ing day they were informed that their
errand was useless. Three days after
their arrival I'm Hiroshima the ENJOYS
were preparing to return to China
1t Is reported thai AFR. Fosters an
noyance was 50 great that an open
quarrel took place between him and his
clients. The angry dispute Is said TO
have been overheard by crowds on the
street on which the Chinese We're
lodged. Though the story Is doubtless
exaggerated. Ii appears To be true that
the American counsellor contemplated
leaving the embassy in Hiroshima and
strafghtway returning to the United
States: but this decision was reversed.
and when the Chinese started on Feb
ruary 4 for Nagasaki he accompanied
them TO that port. with conditional
promise to go still further II his assist
anee were found indispensable.
yiscount Mutsn returns to Tokyo i'm
inediately. Both he and Count Ito
would dshave been ,gratified IL the en-
bassy had proved Trustworthy, and IL
negotiations for peace could have been
safely undertaken. 1t will be interest
ing to see il the lesson OF this rebuff Is
taken TO heart At the close of the Sec
ond and last interview IN the Hiro-
shima prefecture, Count Ito told tie
envoys that whenever properly ac-
credited delegates should be sent by
their emperor they would be received
with as much respect as IL this un-
fortunate error had not been COM
nitted. IL China desires to promptly
renew her application no obstacle will
be put in her way; but 1t Is doubtful II
anything can now check the advance Of
the invaders through Pechili and their
occupation of Peking.
Washington City, Feb. 23.--Secretary
Herbert has received cabiegraIn from
Admiral Carpenter, commanding the
Asiatic squadron, saying that the gun
boat Yorktown returned to Chefoo yes.
terday with thirteen missionaries who
had been rescued from place of dan.
ger The flagship Baltimore and the
Charleston are also at Chefoo.