Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31

demn1ty from Japan, and the representa-
tive of England on the court of indemnity
insisted that all four nations should share
equally. For this reason the share of Amer
lea was far in excess of the actual loss sus-
tanned, and many Americans protested
against the unjust treatment of Japan.
Finally, 1T was suggested to Mr. ArinOri
Mort charge d'affaires of the Japanese le-
cation in Washington, that the Indemnity
might be returned, and he assured his
American friends that, if returned, it would
be used for educational purposes On Feb
ruary %, 1888, Congress voted to return the
indemnity. In the meantime the money
had been invested in government bonds, and
the sum of $1S5.0O0, representing the prin-
cipal and interest, was returned to its right
full owners.
Another great American diplomat in the
Japanese service was Judge John A. Bing-
ham. who was minister at Tokyo from 1872
to 1888. He was also friend to Japan,
and he continued the policy of assistance
begun by Harris. He was the first to break
away from diplomatic concerts by
means of which several powers would unite
to make unreasonable demands on weaker
opponents, threatening war in case of re-
fusal. When Japan issued custom regula-
tions in 1874 without consulting the powers
the diplomatic representatives loudly critf-
cised Japan for exercising her undoubted
right of sovereignty. By some mysterious
system of logic the foreign representatives
considered it their inherent right to con-
Arm Japanese laws, and from their point OF
view any interference from the Emperor
of Japan should not be tolerated. Minister
Bingham, however, defended Japan's right
to establish custom regulations even though
they interfered with American commerce.
Irritated Foreigners.
In 1878 the Japanese government again
seriously irritated the foreign representa-
tives. A German vessel, the Hesperia, ar
rived at Kanagawa from Nagasaki, where
cholera was raging. The government, for
sanitary reasons, wished to quarantine the
vessel, but the foreign representatives
howled with indignation. The latter con-
tended that the government could not quar-
antine, but merely inspect the vessel
Finally, when the japanese officials at
tempted to enforce the quarantine a Ger
man warship hurried to the port and COM
PEELED the japanese to desist. Minister
Bingham protested against this highland
ed act of Germany on the ground that the
lives of American citizens were imperiled,
but nothing was ever done in the matter
The regulation of the sale of opium also
foreign representatives. To prevent the
spread of the habit the government pre-
scribed several regulations which were
especially obnoxious to the English trade.
OF course, England based her protest on
other than commercial grounds, but the
real cause of her objection was the selfish
desire to protect her existing markets In
deed, the European powers have usually
oSSil hAoiC iiiiuCiiSSo ny Oh
trade and commerce than of kindness and
equity.
Another notable diplomatic act which
showed the friendly attitude of Japan
toward America occurred in 1856. A San
Francisco forger fled to Japan to avoid ar
rest, as there was no eXtraditicn treaty UNI
der which he could be legally brought back;
but Japan arrested and returned the GRIM
inal in spite of this deficiency. This Incl
dent showed the necessity of permanent
extradition treaty, and one was soon nego-
tiated.
The cordial relations between America and
Japan have been expressed in the words of