The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-03
FOSTER NAY PREVENT PEACE
The japanese Will not Wait for tho Chi
ntso Advisory Counsel.
TO RENEW CRY OF ION TO PEElS."
JApsa 10 Already Suspicious Of the Good
Faith Of Their Eneinies-ProRrsss
Of the War.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2--Danger threat
ems the peace negotiate between China
and Japan, and from present indications
IL is exceedingly probable that hostilities
may be renewed with even greater yigor,
and the cry OF ''On TO Pekin' once more
become the slogan Of the Japanese forces.
DESPITE u prevailing belief TO the con-
trary. it is not unlikely that the Japa-
nese Government will decline To make
further postponement OF the actual COM
mencement of the negotiations in order
to await the arrival OF Mr.. John W. Eos
ter the Chinese advisory counsei, ana II
is improbable that arrangements Tor ihe
settlement of the dispute Will have been
completed before Mr.. Foster reaches Hiro-
shma, where the representatives, Of botn
the warning powers viii meet. Alr. Fos-
ter will sail from NancouveI on January
9Th, providing he Is not snow-bound, and
is due in Yokohama on January 10th.
Two days will give him ample time 10
reach Hiroshima, SO that the Chinese
| cannot ask for postponement after ;hc
g2d instant. The two Chinese ambassa-
dors of peace are due in Shanghai Oh
January 9Th, and expect to reach Hiro-
shima on the 9th instant, and the propa-
bilties are that they will be asked 10
begin the negotiations without delay
WILL NOT WAIT FOR ME. FOSTER.
The darger that threatens the settle
| ment which has seemed such a certainty
| will arise at this point, for the Japanese
| Government will refuse, without doubt,
| TO agree to any temporIzing on the plea
| that Mr.. Foster has not arrived and that
| the Chinese ambassadors cannot proceed
| without his assistance. 1t may be stated
| with some degree OF positiveness that Il
direct declinaion by the Chinese ambassa-
| doris to begin the negotiations until Mr..
| Foster reaches Hiroshima viii result IN
| positive disagreement and the breaking
| off of the overtures. which will place
| the possibilities for peace farther away
than ever and cause the Japanese forces
| 10 push their way with greater vigor to-
| ward the Chinese capital. In that event
nothing short of the fall of PelIin is likely
! TO put an end to hostilties.
| 1t has been known for some time that
the Japanese Government IS suspicious
| OF the good faith OF their enemies IN the
| overtures for the suspension of the wal
First came the Detring affair. In which
| Mr. Detring was sent to Japan ostensihiy
for the purpose of making terms of peace,
| but really armed only with "a letter from
| the Chinese court" TO use his own eN-
preston, directing him to make Inquiry
! into the prospects for a se,,ement.
TIE AMERICAN MOVEMENT.
When Mr.. behring's mission failed. ine
| cvertures on which the present neSoua
| lions are based We're made by China to
| .Japan through Mr. DENLY. the Ameri-
| can Minister at Pekin. And NJ. Dunn.
! the American Minister at Toxic. Japan
expressed Willingness 10 treat with
| China, If the Pekin Government would
send an ambassador duly accredited and
armed with full power 10 negotiate a
peace treaty. TO this the Chinese Govern
! ment sent answer that it could hardly
agree 20 such a proposition until 1t knew
the basis on which the Japanese wished
the Arrangement for peace 10 be made.
| Already inclined 10 look with suspicion
OH the Chinese professions of good taith
| the Japanese Government found in this
answer ample confirmation OF its growing
| belief that the Chinese Government was
! attempting TO ascertain what their enc
mics would seek to extract rom them as
indemnify, in order TO be prepared with
| arguments to secure modification, and
It was for this reason that Niscount Mut-
"a, the japanese Minister Of Foreign AZ
fairs. declined to have further dealings
| with Pekin on the subject until the peace
ambassador was appointed.
WILL NOT RECOGNIZE FosTRB.
After some delay, China appointed. not
one. but two ENJOYS, and it was thought
! that the negotiations would begin IN
| very short time. But a few days ago the
appointment Of Mr. Foster was am
nounced, as counsel 10 the Chinese am
bassadors, and 1t is believed tnat tn
Chinese ENJOYS will ask Count Mu'Za
to suspend the commencement of actual
! negotiations until Mr.. Foster has arrived
at the place Of meeting.
The Japanese peace commissioners arr
! not likely to give any formal recognition
| to Mr.. Foster. He will certainly not ~
| allowed 10 attend the sttines Of the com
| mission. provided he arrives at HircThi-
ma before its business Is concluded. ami II
frequent requests for adjournment arc
made by the two Chinese envoys IN order
that they may consult with him the
Japanese commissioners will probably re-
fuse to proceed further unless these re-
! quests cease.