Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
TREATING FOR PEACE
Japan's Method of Procedure
Shown in History.
ITO'S ADDRESS IN 1895
TO CHINESE PLENIPoTENTIARIEs
AT CONFERENCE TO END WAR.
Clear and Succinct Statement of Fact
and Reasoning-Relative Positions
of the Two Belligerents.
ITO'S ADDRESS IN 1895

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. June 17.-How Japan treats
for peace Is illustrated by Count Ito's ad-
dress to the Chinese plenpotentiaries, Ex-
cellencies Chang in Heon and Shao Yu
Lien at the conference of the I'd of Feb
ruary, 1895.
Count Ito said:
"The measure which my colleague and
myself find 1t necessary at this moment to
adopt is the logical and inevitable result
of situation for which we are in no wise
responsible.
China has hitherto held herself almost
entirely aloof from other powers, and while
she has in some instances enjoyed the ad-
vantages accruing to her as a member Of
the family of nations, she has perhaps more
frequently denied the responsibilities of
that relation She has pursued a policy of
isolation and distrust, and consequently
her external relations have not been char
acterized by that frankness and good faith
which are essential to good neighborshood.
Agreements Repudiated.
Instances are not wanting in which Chi
nese commissioners, after having formally
agreed to international compacts, have re-
fused to affix their seals, and cases might
be cited In which treaties solemnly con-
cluded have been unceremoniously and
without apparent reason repudiated.
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"Those unfortunate occurrences find a
sufficient explanation in the fact that China
was not on those occasions serious in
earnest, but beyond that 1t might be said,
with truth. that the officials that were
designated to carry on negotiations had
not been clothed with the necessary au-
thority for the purpose.
'It has from the first been the wish Of
Japan to avoid results which history
teaches her are liable to be the outcome
of negotiations with Chinese officials who
are not clothed with full powers In the
sense in which that term is usually under
stood.
Consequently the imperial government
made 1t a condition precedent to any peace
negotiations that the Chinese plenipoten-
tiaries should be furnished with full pow
ers to conclude peace, and 1t was only
upon receiving positive assurance from the
Chinese government that that condition
precedent had been complied with and that
the Chinese plenipotentiaries were on their
way to Japan. that his majesty, the Emper-
or of Japan, conferred upon my colleagues
and myself full powers to conclude and
sign prel1minaries Of peace with the pleni-
potentiaries OF China
Sohcitude for Peace Questioned.
That your excellencies powers are, not
wlthstandfng that assurance, fatally defec-
tlve' is 10 me sure indication that the
government of China is not yet really solic-
itous for peace.
criticism is nearly exhausted by a sinp1e
comparison OF the two instruments which
We're reclprocally exchanged at this hoard
yesterday put II Is not out Of place to point
out that one fulf1lls the definition which ia
usually given among civilized states to the
term full powers, while the other is desti-
tute or nearly all those qualities which are
regarded as essential to such powers: #
even rails to indicate the subject upon
which your eXcellencies are to negotiate. II
does not authorize your excellencies to con-
ciude or sign anything; 1t is silent on the
subject of the subsequent imperial ratifica-
ton OF your excellencies acts.
IN short 1t would seem that the au-
thorlty which has been conferred upon your
exceiiencies would be completely fulfilled by
your reporting to your government what my
colleague and myself might have to say
In this situation 1t would be impossible
Tor us to continue negotiations.
1t may be urged that usage has not been
entirely ignored in this instance. / cannot
admlt the suft1ciency of such an explana-
ton. disclaim any right to interfere with
the purely domestic customs of China. but
l deem 1t not only my right, but my duty
to insist that in international concerns ar
fectlng my own country, the peculiar
methods of China shall yield to the supe-
rior rules Of international intercourse
The Restoration Of Peace.
The restoration Of peace is a matter of
the greatest Importance. To bring about
a re-establishment Of amicable relations
1t Is not only necessary that treaties with
that object in view should be signed, but
1t Is imperative that the engagements
should be fulfilled in good faith.
wv hile Japan has found no reason to
approach China on the subject of peace she
nevertheless feels bound, in Difference to
that civilization which she represents to
listen to any bona fide overtures which
China may advance. but she will decline to
take part in the future in any fruitless ne
gotiations or to become party to a paper
peace. The terms which Japan agrees to
will be scrupulously observed by her, and
she Will at the time insist upon
like observance of the terms by China
Whenever, therefore, China finds herself
seriously and sincerely desirous of peace
and will confide actual full powers to Chi
nese officials, whose names and positions
will serve as an assurance that the terms
which they may agree to will be confirmed
and carried out in good faith, Japan will
be prepared to enter upon new negotia-
tiOuS''