The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-04-17
Peace Declared.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-Of1icial ad-
vices received here to-day from Japan in
dictate that an understanding has been
reached between the Japanese and
Chinese plenipotentiaries and that the
news Of the definite conclusion of peace
may be expected at any moment. The
exact particulars of the proposed terms
for settlement could not be learned, but
it is understood that in response to the
urgent and repeated requests of the
Chinese plenipotentiary for an abatement
Of the demands originally. made, the
Japanese plenipotentiaries have granted
important concessions.
Great satisfaction is expressed here at
the information that the peace negotia-
tions have been practically concluded be-
tween China and Japan eight days before
the time fixed for the termination of the
armistice. So far as can be learned, q
formal treaty has not been signed, and
may not be before tomorrow. Mean
while there is possibility that Ii Hung
Chang, the Chinese representative, may
object at the last moment and another
postponement occur. This Is regarded,
however, as only possibility and not
probability, inasmuch as the plenipoten-
tiaries have devoted a fortnight to their
work, and the conclusions have been
reached after the most careful and delib-
crate consideration.
is believed that among the conces.
sions made by Japan has been decrease
in the amount of the indemnity. demand
cd, and that this is the principal compro-
mise, When the signature Of Ii Hung
Chang shall have been affixed to the
treaty, peace will then be formally de-
clared. The Chinese viceroy was clothed
with plenary powers when he came to
Simonoseki, and any action taken by
him, therefore, is defnitive.
Careful inquiries both at the Chinese
and Japanese legations and of officials OF
the State department and officers of the
navy, who by residence in both the con-
tending countries have become familiar
with their customs aud currency seem to
indicate strong probability that the in
demnity to be paid by China to Japan
will be paid in silver and not in gold,
though 20 definite official statement to
the effect has yet been received here.
Silver is the measure of value to q great
extent in both countries. Japan has not
been called upon to negotiate any Eu-
ropean loan payable in gold orthe prose-
cution of the war. Therefore she has ex-
perienced no especial drain of gold, China
on the other hand, being heavily in debt
to England and other European nations,
has exported within the past few years
large quantities Of gold and the national
treasury does not contain any considera-
BILE amount Of this metal. Moreover,
silver is the only medium of exchange in
the Chinese Empire and this being the
case, it would be much easier to pay the
indemnity in that metal than in gold.
Some misunderstanding exists as to the
meaning of the word "Tael, in which the
indemnity will be paid. The "tael" is not
a coin, but q weight. It varies in value
according to the price of silver. In Pekin
at the present time one tael is equal to
SI.50 in Mexican silver dollars, or 75
cents in American gold. The silver is
put up In the form of bullion or ingots,
each ingot containing silver to the
amount Of from 20 to so taels. Beyond
the fact that strong grounds exist for be.
lieving that the indemnity will be paid
In silver, and that at no time has gold
been stipulated in the negotiations, no
further details ara obtainable at his time.
The tael, which will be used as the meas
ure Of value, will be no doubt the Hal
Kwan tael, in which customs duties are
paid and whose value is as above stated.
It Is believed that one of the Japanese ar
mics now on Chinese soil will be retained
there until the indemnity shall have been
partially, if not fully, paid. The other
armies will be returned to Japan and dis
banded as rapidly as possible.