Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-03-05
War Imminent d?

War Immlnentg
London, Mar. 5.-War is imminent
between China and japan. High Of
fciss are at last unofficially admitting
that there is every appearance of dis
position on Japan's part to force a
quarrel in China. The incident of the
Chinese seizure of the Japanese steam
ship Tatsu Maru seems trivial. Con-
sidering it as the elimination, however,
of series of still unsettled misunder-
standings over territorial and other
really important matters, it assumes a
serious aspect.
The Midado's attitude has made even
the Tatsu controversy one which it
would be hard to adjust smicably. No
one familiar with the circumstances
doubts that the steamship was trying
to make a surreptitious landing of arms
on the Chinese coast for rebels sgsinst
the government. Though consigned to
Macao merchants, it is not thought it
was intended for them.
Yet the Chinese acted with perfect
courtesy. They offered to submit the
dispute to a mixed court, and, on moet-
ing with q peremptory refusal, began
what has been very fairly conducted
inquiry of their own.
Just why China should have agreed to
release the Tatsu, apologize for the
seizure and pay indemnity February 29,
when it evidently did not intend to carry
out such a pledge, is uncertain. The
time having passed, however, without
action, the dispute assumes an acute
stage.
Japan is known to have implied the
gravest threats as evidenced by the dis
patch of a cruiser TO Canton to enforce
its demands and it is not denied that dis.
regard of them will be deemed cssus
beIli.
The Mikad)'s motives seem reason
ably clear. For one thing ne and his
advisers probably think a foreign war
would take attention from the shocking
conditions of trade, finance and the
working class at home. Success 10 a
clash with the Chinese would undoubt-
dely greatly tighten Japsn's grip on
MaDchuris.
The Miksdo doubtless counts on
England 10 protect hin from outside in-
reference in the event of sggressions
against China.
English public opinion is far from
be.Ig ss generally pro-Jspsness as
might be expected from the nature Of
the diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
Pekin, March 5.--Japsn has refused
a second Chinese proposition to srb.-
lrate the Tstsu Msru dispute.
Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur William
Moore, commanding the British China
station, was suggested as the mediator.
The offer was considered here as even
more favorable than the original one,
which contemplated settlement of the
controversy by a joint Chinese and Jap
anese commission. The Mikado insists
on the Tatsu's surrender. an apology
and guarantee that the shippers shall
lose nothing, amounting practically to
demand that China buy the cargo.
Toxic continues to threaten force un-
less the Chinese yield, the latter are de-
termiDed 10 maintain their rights, and
it is hard 10 see how peaceful under
standing can be reached.
Since the Tatsu was seized other Jap.
anese vessels, according to information
10 the Chinese customs officials hands,
hsve been carrying on a contrsbsnd
trade 10 the waters where the first seizure
WAS made.
Il is believed here that Japan is try
ing to dispose of 80, 900 rifles captured
from Russia during the late war, and
that the government has turned the
weapons over to private merchants who
fiud the readiest market for them with
Chinese revolutionists.
Viceroy Chang Jen-Ohup, of Canton,
is clingiDg grimly to the Tatsu despite
the presence of a japanese cruiser of
the city, and insists he will not give it
Up until better proof is offered than here
tosore that it was not contrsband.
Members of the japanese government
continue to ridicule the iie2 Of war with
China over the Tatsu matter. They are
a unit, however, in declaring that the
latter government must surrender the
cou6scsted vessel with proper apologies
and compensation to The owners. The
ministers are less angry than desperately
by the situation.
Two Chinese proHors to submit the
question to mixed court have been re-
fused with the additional statement that
such suggestions are unwelcome.