The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-26
TEN YEARS AGO.

The approaehll; peace negotiation
between Russia and Japan win be diff
ferent in some essential particulars from
those between China and Japan ten year
ago, Nevertheless, it will be of interest
at least by way OF contrast il not o.
comparison, to recall some of the fea
lures Of those former negotiations ant
the relation in point of time between tn,
peacemaking and the establishment OF
an armistice.
China first sent Messrs. Chang aud
Shao as negotiators, but upon its ap.
pearing that they had not plenary pow
er Japan declined to have any dealings
with them, but sent them home and in.
formed the Chinese government, through
the American legation, that the sending
of another peace commission would be
wholly useless unless the commissioners
were invested with full powers. China
thereupon, on February %, lS95, an
nounced the appointment OF Ii Hung
Chang as plenipotentiary, saying: "He
has full powers to settle the terms of
treaty OF peace and to sign and seal the
same The appointment OF Count Ito
Hirobumi and Viscount AIutsu Mune-
mitsu as the japanese plenipotentiaries,
was announced on March 10, and on the
same day Ii Hung Chang arrived at Shi-
monoseki, where the negotiations were
to take place. The first meeting was
held the next day, March 90, and at it
Ii Hung Chang proposed an immediate
armistice, recalling at the same time the
fact that China, through American inter
mediaries. had asked for an armistice
some months before, but Japan had re-
piled that that question could be con-
sidered when peace negotiations between
plenipotentiaries had begun. Thereupon
Japan, on March ,2l, named terms upon
which she would grant an armistice.
Three days later China declared the
terms unacceptable, and the war would
probably have been pressed by Japan
with unrelenting vigor had it not been
for an unexpected and almost tragic in
eident. On the very day, March "a,
when the plenipotentiaries disagreed as
TO the armistice, an attempt was made
10 assassinate the Chinese envoy. The
culprit was instantly apprehended. and
SIX days later was sentenced to penal
seryitude for life. But meantime. on
March 2s, BY way Of atonement for the
outrage, the Japenese government waiy-
ed It's own conditions and offered China
an unconditional armistice for twenty.
one days which was accepted by China
and went into force on March 80.
Ii Hung Chang was able to resume ne.
gotlations on April |, and on that dav
received the draft for Japan's proposals
Tor treaty. On April ) he replied.
TO certain items, especially
the cession Of so much territory. the size
of the indemnity and the opening of so :
many ports to commerce. The next dav
ne was asked TO formulate China's conn.
.er proposals, which he did no April D J
Japan replied on April 10, declining to {
iccept most of the Chinese proposals.
'ut Offering some notifications Of her j
'Wn terms, and on April II she presented
Q emma an ultimatlm, saying that her !
modified demands must be regarded AZ
mai and that a categorical reply would n
e expected within space of four days
rom April 10. On April u Ii Hung u
.hahg made a last protest and appeal. >
N Aprl IL Ito replied that the uhi. Il
nahum was final and not open TO dis.
usSioh, and on April II the treaty of 0
'elce was signed by the respective pleni. d
'otentiaries. a
Durlng the verbal discussions both Ii "
iuns Chang and Ito frequently dwelt II
pom the desirability of making a neace e.
nat would be equitable and that would ;
SSure enduring friendship between the Z
"o countries. Ito more than once gave u
sound advice, saying; 'You must put n
way what is obsolute in your system 10
government if you would prosper , :
when Ii replied that he realized the .
eed OF reforms, but the ancient system
onlila was too strong TO be overcome
DAY In insisting upon Japan's pro. er
'Sais ITO was inexorable. "First.D said a
J. ''as to indemnity of two hundred mil. al
ons We can not bear that enormou. Ii
iroen we have reduced" replied Ito re
'nce Tor all If the war goes on the 70
demnity will be more" "Once for an, 25