The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-14

Washington. April 13.-The Chinese
legation has received no confirmation
! of the advices from Japan that an
understanding has been reached. and
there is strong disposition on the
part of the Chinese to regard the report
as premature
An ominous lull has occurred since
the first brief dispatch came from
Japan that an understanding has been
reached. Yet the concessions leading to
the agreement have not been reported.
and it is stated they will not De made
known for a week or ten days.
Appeal to Russia.
There is no doubt China has appealed
to Russia and other European nations
against the terms Japan originally pro-
posed. An interesting question arises
as to whether the unmistakable threats
of Russia and the appeal of that IA
ton for intervention by the powers was
antecedent or subsequent to the peace
understanding reported yesterday be-
tween Japan and China. The views of
the state department officials is that
the advices from Russia are generally
based upon the status of the peace ne
gotiationS several days ago. and that
since then the Japanese conditions have
been materially modified and are now
assuming such shape as to make them
more agreeable to Russia or to other
great European powers.
AS officially stated in the Associated
Press dispatches. among the original
Japanese demands was one for the alb
solute cession of Port Arthur. Although
not specifically stated. it is probable
this included a cession of a consider
hi ~ r1f Ill
of the port. As Port Arthur is within
the. limits of the great province Of
Manchuria, this demand. If PERSISTED
in. would conflict directly with the Rus
sian ultimatum delivered at the very
beginning of hostilities. and repeated
more than once since in a semi-official
manner. to wit: That she could not
permit the acquisition by Japan of any
portion of Manchuria.
Occupation of Port Arthur.
Officials of the state department are
confident that within the last few days
the japanese demand on this point has
been modified so as to permit only the
temporary occupation of Port Arthur,
perhaps only so long as the war in
demnity shall remain unpaid. To such
stipulation. It IS said, no reasonable
objection could be made, as it would
be based upon the precedent set by
Germany in imposing terms Of peace |
upon France when she retained the !
great French fortress of Belfort until |
the indemnity was paid. The practical |
effect of this is that the case was TO |
cause the French to pay the enormous |
war indemnity in a space of time far /
shorter than was allowed by the |
treaty in order to escape the humilia
ton of foreign occupation Of French |
territory. OF course. if Japan follows
a similar course in respect to Port |
Arthur the Russian government Will |
make sure that she has ample guaran-
tee that the occupied port will be evac-
uated within fixed period Of time.
A Just Demand.
1t is also pointed out that Japan
may justly make such a demand for
the temporary possession of Port Ar
thur as the means of insuring herself
against retaliatory war by China until
the feeling of resentment may have
worn away, for by the occupancy OF
this strategic position the Chinese
would find it almost impossible to
keep their communication open be-
tween Pekin and the sea in case of
renewal Of hostilitles.
On the whole the officials here (as-
,uming that Japan pursues a policy of
see nothing in this news
from Russia calculated to prevent the
of peace unless II should
perhaps encourage the Chinese to
endeavor to recede from the terms al
ready practically agreed upon. in the
hope of securing better treatment
from Japan while the latter nation is
under apprehension of Russian inter-
VentiOn.