Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-09
FATEs SEEM TO BE BE
Diplomats Of Both Count. y
Busy with COmplicatiO. !.
SITUATION ALARMING TO OTHERS
Latest Complication is the Seizure of
japanese Ship.
WAR IS NOT LOOKED FOR NOW
Unless Continuation of Irritating z
Complications Can he stopped,
However, such May he the
ultimate Outcome.

GlNAmhNe uuNCOmes
TOXIC. March s.-The fates seem almost
resolved TO embroil japan and China by
fair means or foul. No sooner doss one
diplomatic issue appear to be on the eve
OF satisfactory settlement than another
one crops up to prolong the agony and
keep the TOXIC foreign office ard the
Chinese foreign board more or less busy
The Kanto. a boundary, the Ts'n- -Mln-Tun-
Fukumen railway, the North Manchuran
customs and the telegraph questions-all
these have now ceased to excite much
concern in the minds OF those who can see
below the surface of the current, but on the
other hand, as though the Chimes them
selves, were determined TO furnish the
JAPANESE opposition with it's strongest argu-
ments in favor Of a more spirited ro'cy.
vis-a-vls the middle kingdom. whose
Chinese warships seized a japanese mer-
chant steamer-the Tatsu Maru-in Chinese
territorial waters, just outside Macao har-
bor and escorted Il to Canton on the
charge that II was engaged in an attempt
TO smuggle arms and ammunition into
China To add to the irritation inseparable
from such course OF action, the Chinese
commander hauled down the Japanese flag
en- route and ran up the Chinese DR. gon
ensign In It's stead. The japanese foreign
office has demanded the immediate release
of the Tatsu Mhru ard the punishment ol
the officials responsible for its seizure.
Quite irrespective OF the merits Of the case.
the Japanese minister maintains the acton
OF the Chinese authorities In seizing and
hauling down the Japanese flag was an in
suit to Japan.
Facts in the Controversy.
The facts of the case as nearly as can
be ascertained from both sides appear 70
be these: The japanese contention is that
the vessel left Kobe January % with
nlnety-four cases OF rifles and forty cases
OF ammunition consigned by the Ataka
shokai of Osaka to Messrs. Kwong 70 Il
Company Of Macao, who are licensed bY
the Macao government to deal In arms. II
is asserted that the Ataha shokai had OBJ
tanned the necessary permit from the Macao
authorities with regard to the arms and
ammunition and that the usual customs
and police foSinalities had been complied
with az Kobe. The fact that the Tatsu
Maru anchored outside Macao harbor is
4 explained ty the statement that It's draft
" was too great to permit IL TO enter the
harbor IN safety and that the intention Of
the eaptain and the consignees was to
have the cargo discharged into lighters.
According to the captains story, the yes
sci was surrounded by four Chinese gun
boats and was shortly afterward boarded
nv the Chinese commander. who declared
that although the steamer was in posses
sion of a certificate issued by the Portu-
guese authorities at Macao. the Chinese
government was informed that 1t was bound
for Macao with a cargo Of 134 cases of
arms and ammunition consigned to a Chi
nese. and that he had been ordered by the
taotai OF Canton TO stop the discharge OF
this cargo Later two customs officials
and twenty bluejackets boarded the
steamer The incident created no small ex-
citement among the steamers passengers,
some apprehension being entertained that
the Japanese warships in Hong Kong har-
Dor might attempt a rescue, in which event
it is deemed probable that the Chinese
gunboats would have sent the Tatsu Maru
20 the bottom without further ceremony. II
was to safeguard the vessel against any
attempt to escape that the Chinese com
mander ran up the dragon of the Chinese
this technically placing the vessel under
arrest.
Claim Arms for Insurgents.
Further inquiry has elected the informa
tion that the seizure OF the Tatsu Mari
was brought about through a report sem
from Kobe or Osaka to the Chinese author
ities TO the effect that although the riflei
and ammunition were consigned to firm
IN Macao, they were really TO be smuggle,
into the hands Of insurgents in the interio
OF China. Acting on this assurance, tn
Chinese authorities took immediate step
10 seize the steamer. II Is surmised tina
the information OF the Chinese government
may have besn a Chinese residing in japan
In the meantime the situation regarding
the captive steamer has been found impos
sible OF adjustment and yesterday a higl
e H.. - -
lowing to say with regard to Japan's cours
OF action:
Japan will not resort to force in con
nection with the seizure OF this vessel un
less compelled 10 do so by the action o
China
Postal Service as Weapon,
PEiSIEG March s-Chma's &C ivi'y (
recover fun sovereignty in Manchuria IA
aroused the japanese to oppcs tion. Japa
has raised the standard Of Its postal OF
sIeers. increased the effectiveness of It's pos
fal system, which is one OF the Jaranes
: governments special instruments Of aggre'
sion, and is harrassing the imperial Chimes
post by such means as the following Japa
refused China certain postal ri 'i'e eV o
the South Manchuran railways to which
is entitled, has broken open Chinese ma
bags secretly CO.. fisca'e Cne met Rag an
contents and conducts a parcels pest ovt
It's railways while refusing u arr N
parcels ot the Chinese pest.
China has been aware FOR some time pa
that Japan was rsny SIS 6e~a-tmtnt {
communications to oxie-d its au;hari y
Manchuria. Japan suSs'ltuei for its mil
tary post. when u was Withdrawn a. N
time OF the evacustlon, a compete TO I
establishment under a postal comm s7'o7,
OF the Imperial japanese Tos'. who reside
al Dalny. Chinas method Of battling IN
aggression has been the re-establishment
its own posts whica were disorganiEei
the war The number OF postoffices was II
creased from foTty-three TO e'ghty-four an
will be further increAsed to 81 by Apr
leOs. china has NOT 50 far had the TEN ri
TO mention its natural rights in Manehur
on account OF the menace which the Jari
nese government holds over II, and since
Is impossible to oust Japan china's only '
naming weapoA Is eompetton.