St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-02

but his personal appearance is such
as would command attention in any
company of prominent men, and he has
Shown himself to be a living example
Of the wonderful strength and posi-
bilities of the japanese people. He is
a man of wide experience. His father
was one of the most prominent of the
Samurai in the service of Prince Ku-
rOda, and when that prince in 1874
sent a number of Japanese youths to
America to be educated, Mr.. Kurino
was among them. He went to school
in Boston and graduated there at the
Cambridge law school about 1881. He
then went back to Japan and entered
the foreign office or department of
state. He has been connected with
this office in different posi-
tions from that time until now, when
he has come to the United States to
represent his country at perhaps the
most critical time in its history. He
was for a time chief of the bureau of
international telegraphs, and as such
was sent to Europe not long ago to an
International conference on the sub
ject. He has at different times been
sent to Corea on diplomatic business,
and he was there in 1882, and in 1884
when the revolution occurred, and he
was again in Corea just before the
opening of the present war, having
been sent there to report to the gov
eminent as to the situation. Knowing
as he does all about his own country
and having had a long experience as
TO all matters connected with China,
there is no man in the world who is
better fitted to discuss the present sit
uatiOn in the far East. l called upon
him the other day at the legation and
had long talk regarding the settle
ment Of the war and it's effect upon
Japan and the nations Of the west.
The talk was entirely a personal one,
and Minister Kurino was very par
ticular to state his views were those of
an individual, that he spoke only for
himself and not the japanese govern
ment.
WHAT JAPAN GOT.
One of my first questions was as to
what Japan got by the war and as to
what changes the war would make on
the face of Asia.
He replied: at will make changes
of very important description in
Asia. Japan will, of course, have the
island of Formosa, but as regards
the occupation of the mainland or
any portion of it, the matter now be-
ing the subject of negotiation of the
most delicate nature, it would hardly
be proper for me to express an opinion
on the subject.
"There is one thing, however, that
I would like to say, and that is as to
the assertion which seems to have
gained some ground that the Japanese
nation are eager to aggrandize them
selves by the acquisition of foreign ter
ritory We are not land crazy, and we
have never striven for colonial acqui-
sition. Whatever concessions we may
have gained from China in this direc-
tion are the legitimate results of the
struggle we have waged with her,
either in the extension of territory
which our geographical position rem
ders natural or proper, or by its ac-
uuisition for purposes of necessary de-
tense against future attacks.
"HoW about FormoSa, your excel
Iency?" I asked. docs Japan gain
much by its acquisition?"
'T think it does," replied the minis
ter. "Formosa is essentially part of
a long train of the Japanese islands.
These run from Yezo down to Naga-
salzi, then break out a little further be-
low in the Loo Choo islands. Formosa
is natural part of this chain. The
island can hardly be called a Chi
inese province, except in name. Its
Chinese population is not large, and
a great many Of the inhabitants
are savages, who live by hunting
and who have long been menace to
Ill strangers shipwrecked on their
loasts. They have in the past killed