The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-02
QUARRELS AMONG OTHER MA
TIONS

II the hands of American diplomats
and ministers of Europe and Asia have
been no less busy.
The year opened with the war between
China and Japan still in progress. The
struggle was closed by Il treaty of peace
signed April II. BY the terms of the
original treaty China agreed to pay a
large cash indemnity, to surrender all
claims to Korea and in addition to cede
the island of Formosa and part of
Manchuria on the mainland, including
the peninsula of Liao-Tung.
Here Russia, backed by Germany and
France, intcrposed. She did not object
to the transfer OF Formosa, but she was
retain any part of the continent. Kus-
sa 5 demands were SO perempto tnnt
japan reluctantly !ieiued, pi~ni.slng To
Withuiaw her Troops from Lao lung IL,
soon as China shall nave paid the IN
d.nilnty in 1ull.
1 uc aggressive conduct of Russin
coupled Mitn rumors OF secret utnier-
STANDINGS with China and japan, wD,cn
Noulu give her possession OF a slice OF
C.lhese territory and n better terminus
Tor the rams siberian railroad, gave
England worse case of Kussophob.a
than she has suffered for years, uut us
the alarming runors were not Officially
confirmed no serious diplomatic action
was taken.
Japan, on her part. found TINT though
size had beaten China she had yet to
conquer IOrmusa and that the bar
harians of the island were reilly more
farm al "a i.ln tl.n,
ters. Though the result of this second
war is not in doubt, the BLACK Flags"
are not vet completely subdued
In Corea, too, which is still partly
garr.soned by japanese troops, there
have lcen further troubles, culmiha lng
October is in the assassination of the
queen by band led by her father-in
law.
An indirect consequence of the orr
entail war was anti-missiontry rioting
in China encouraged by provincial en-
voys. The most serious disorder was
the Ku-Chcng massacre, in which sew
cral English people lost their lives. An
American consul was the first to take
steps to cnll China to account and in
sisted upon an investigation of the out
RACES. Then Great Britain took up the
matter and brought the reluctant en-
pcrOr to terms with an ultimatum and n
DISPLAY of naval forces.
The official first ntmation that war
existed in Cuba came on February 20,
when the captain general issued n
proclamat iyn suspending constitutional
guarantees. Every effort was made hy
the Spaniards to belittle the rebellion.
At first it was given ont that the dis
tnrhance was nothing more than bnn-
dts raid, but as time passed, as the
foray was still in progress. and rs army
after army was dispatched from the
mother country in pursuit of the al
legged thieves, the truth could no longer
be suppressed that Spain had very
serious war on her hands. Army re
serves were drawn upon until riots broke
out In Spanish cites against further
conscrptions, and not so very long ago
an official admission was made of the
desperate stare of affairs. which sounded
very much like confession of defeat.
There have been but few real battles,
but the multiplicity of skirmishcs and
the fabian policy of the insurgents seem
10 be slowly brt surely wearing out
three sources of Spain.
During the year boundary dispute
between Mexico and Guatemala, which
almost resulted in war. was nmicably
ty st'l exists between Perm on one side
and Chill and Bolivia on the other. con
corning territory conquered by Chill dur
ing the previous war and which she has
now restored to Peru's former ally
against her. Bolivia.
Tho great, overshadowing war cloud re-
mains to be mentoned-the same old
Question of the Sick man. on the Bos-
pborus. In 1894 the civilized world was
Fortified by renorts OF massacres and
the most fiendish atrocities committed
upon Armenans by Kurds and Turkish
troops. After a long delay the grent
powers appointed commission. which
with the very reluctant nermission Of the
rorte, invest ca ted the stores and found
them substantially true. The greater
part of the present year has heen con-
sumed In an endeavor 10 force Turkey To
not only agree TO scheme Of reform
for Armenia. but to give some snbstan-