New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
ANXIETY IN PEKING.
1sP4N,S~ FIRM ATTITUDE.
ToEio aid London Expect Al De-
nonds To Be Net.

-,ekiur March s-Japan's ultmatum in the
= IF the Japanese steamship Tatsu wss pre-
--.as "a the head Of the Chinese Foreign Board
..-aev ard the board has the matter under
-s5e-a4ion to-day. The Tatsu was seized of
,,ao on February by Chinese customs cruis-
-. IN the charge that her cargo of arms and
l-.-,,,,,tion was intended for Chinese revolu-
e,-is.s although consigned to a merchant Of
-,soa The steamer is now being held at
7-,.,7,oa- on the Canton River.
1-ha ;-reducible minimum of the japanese
-,.,-,s is the restoration Of the steamer, as well
: :. ba- cargo and the payment of a full in
-. acttcn is demanded within -'rea-
oersble time" In case of default or postpone
- Ianan. according TO the terms of her ulti-
80, will take immediate action"
IS, expects a reply by tomorrow. She will
-. -ols-ate China's offer TO investigate the case,
-. ,-sists on an apology for the hauling down
:. she Iapanese flag on the Tatsu and she will
-. .coent mediation, affirming that China is in
- and that the facts are incoatrovertible.
D., Favashi, the japanese Minister to
80 ;, delivering the ultimatum made ref
.o-oa 10 Japans sympathy for China IN the
Ter o4 the contrabRnd traffic in arms, and ex-
--,re5 that China could not expect mediation
e long as she cid not admit the participation of
the Portuguese
--,,o March Japan Will not resort to
80 n connection with the seizure Of the
..o.-,er Tatsu unless compelled 10 do so by the
action Of China
7,,,s statement was made to-day by high au-
-.o-i-r fl the Foreign Office. who added:
,,-e impose 10 exercise the utmost patience.
- r,Ilv understand the difficulty which the
csn-rsI government Of China has in dealing with
1tce-o5e who possess extensive constitutional
rovers. 1t is apparent that the Niceroy OF
canton acted hastily in relying information
that the Tstsu was engaged in smuggling arms
he conceived therefore that he had a right to
seize the vessel. when the facts show that the
vessels papers. including a manifest OF arms
consigned in regular form 70 firm in Macao.
were entirely legal A representative OF the
fr-n az Macao boarded the vessel, accompanied
ty the Portuguese authorities. before her seizure
hv Chinese vessel She was undoubtedly then
II Portuguese territorial waters. The claim OF
japan that this is clear case Of violation of
her national rights and an Insult TO the nag was
proved by the Chinese themselves in offering TO
restore the ship, together with further promise
received to-day TO reprima-d the officials who
ioRered the japanese flag.
We are determined 10 concede what we believe
Is proper. but ultimately 10 enforce our demands
should China refuse listen to reason The
world may rest assured that Japan will not act
hastily. but viii weigh her future actions with
the utmost elaboration
To-6ay's advices from Peking contain an offer
70 punish officials connected with the seizure
and also a statement from Yuan Shi Kai that he
desired further time for consideration of the
Japanese demands. This will be granted by the
japanese government, and it is confidently be
lieYed that an agreement viii finally be reached
between the Ticercy Of Canton and the central
government The Foreign Office does not expect
any further developments for few days. the
anly points remaining undecided being the res
tu-ation of the arms which Japan continues TO
demand and the raising Of the Japanese flag
on the Tatsu with appropriate ceremony
london. March 1T is the general opinion
II diplomatic circles that the chances of
rupture between japan and China small.
the latter being unable TO resist The formers
demands While diplomatists consider that
ChiEz is technically IL the wrong. sympathy is
expressed for her as il is felt here that the
japanese customs authorities must have been
vel aware that the consignment OF arms
which was the direct cause of the dispute was
intended for distribution TO Chinese rebels.