Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-08
JAP INTERVIEWED.
He Is the New Japanese Min
ister to England.
TELLS SOME NEWS OF THE WAR.
Status Of the Peace Negotiations Not En-
tirely Satisfactory, and What Their Out.
come Will he Not n Thing To BE Isashly
Predicted-No Let-Up in the War Until
q Treaty Of Peace L. Signed.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. SIX. 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 diplomats in
the japanese service. He has lately been
head minister of the bureau of politics in
the departT ent Of foreign affairs in Toxic
the position lately filed by Kurino until
his appointment to the office of miUister
% the United States. He will succeed
|iscount kaoki as the japanese minister
to the court of st. James. Viscount Kaoki
has been filling the two offices of minister
to Great Britain and Germany, and to re-
lieve him Of share of his burdensome du-
ties kato has been given the British mis-
sion Viscount kaoki will remain in
Berlin
China's Overtures for Peace.
when l left Japan" said the new
minister, ''the Chinese government was
making overtures for peace, but, as you
have probably been informed, nothing
has been accomplished. The japanese
government expressed its willingness to
receive the Chinese plenipotentiariesa and
negotiate treaty Of peace, but my last
advices are to the effect that China would
not agree to having the meeting held in
Japan. China prefers that Japan's rep
resentative go over to China, but Japan
insists that the plenipotentiaries of China
should meet her own representatives on
Japanese soil, since it is China that Is SUI
ing for peace and not Japan. Just what
the outcome of the present negotiations
will be it is difficult to surmise. Our
ha in,
China Overtures Were made by China
for an armistice, pending the settlement
OF the negotiations for peace, but Japan
naturally declined to grant that favor.
Various Stories Sent Out.
1T would give China an advantage to
which she is not entitled and there will be
no cessation of hostilities until the final
settlement of a treaty of peace"
Mr.. kato said that no official announce
nent OF intimation of the terms under
which Japan would agree to a cessation of
war had been made.
Various stories have been telegraphed
over the world designed to show the
amount of idemnity asked by Japan, he
said, but l can say that not even the
Chinese government know what Japan
will demand. The secrets of the various
departments of the Japanese government
are carefully guarded. Know this much.
however: China has asked the Japanese
govern nment for a statement of what in
demnity it would require as a condition
for the cessation of hostilities.
Hostilities Will Continue.
"The reply made to China was ..that tho
matter would only be discussed when
China consented to send plenipotentiaries
to Japan to hAsOtiate a pea9e treaty"
Minister kato said 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 Chi
nese capital taken while the cold weather
last.
Just before Ileft Japan" he said, 1--WE
received word Of the capture of Haicsen,
which is on the road to Moukden. The
first army is pressing on to Moukden and
it is confidently hoped that the historic
seat of the Manchuria dynasty will
succumb to the invading army before
long