The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-10
WAR CLOUO IN EAST
japan Presents Her UltiNatun
TO China
EXPECTS HER REPLY TODAY
Demands Surrender OF Vessel and
Indemnity
VIII Take Immediate Action if Terms
oil Elimination Are Not Complied
With-WIH Not Accept ANY Media
t.on-Asscrts That CnIna is in The
Wrong and Must Submit or Take
The Consequences.

Pekin, March 7.-Japan's uiIimatum
in the case or the Japanese steam
ship Tatsu Maru was presented to
the head of the Chinese foreign board
yesterday and today the board has the
matter under consideration. The Tatsu
Maru was seized off Macao on Feb
ruary on the charge that her cargo
OF arms and ammunition was intend
ed for Chinese revolutionisIs, although
Consigned to a merchant t, n. place.
TIE steamer is row being held at
WtampOa, on the Canton river.
The irreducible minimum Of the
Japanese claims is the restoration OF
the steamer as we'll as her cargo and
the payment of fall indemnity. Ac
ticn is demanded within reasonable
time"
In case Of default or pOStpOnenent
Japan, according to the terms Of her
ultimatum, will take immediate ac-
ton"
Japan expects a reply by tomorrow.
| She will not tolerate Chinas offer
! to investigate the case; she insists
upon an apology for the hauling down
of the Japanese flag on the Tatsu
Maru, and she will not accept media
and that the facts are incontroverti-
! BILE.
Baron Hasahi, the Japanese minis
| ter, in delivering the ultimatum made
reference to Japans sympathy for
China in the matter of the contraband
traffic in arms, and explained that
China could not expect mediation so
long as she did not admit that partt-
l ~,
Toxic, March Japan will not
resort to force in connection with
1.-The seizure of the steamer Tatsu un-
less compelled to do SO by the action
of China This statement was given
Ito the Associated Press correspondent
To-day by a high authority in the for
eign Office who continuing said:
I'VE propose to exercise the ut
most patience and fully understand
| the difficulty the central government
of China has in dealing with vice
Iroys who possess extensive const1tu-
tional powers 1t is quite apparent
that the viceroys of Canton acted has
tily in relying upon information
" hich stated that the Tatsu was en-
gagged in smuggling arms. He conceiv-
ed, therefore, that he had right
TO seize the vessel when the facts
show that the vessa's papers, includ-
ing i manifest of arms consigned In
regular foriii IA @ firm in Macao, were
entirely legal. A representative of the
| firm at Macao boarded the vessel ac-
companied by the Portuguese authori-
| ties before her seizure by a. chinese
vessel. She was undoubtedly then in
Portuguese territorial waters The
claim of Japan that this is a clear
case Of violation of her national rights
and an insult to the flag was proved
|by the Chinese themselves in offer
ing to restore the ship, together with
la farther promise received today to
lreprimand Che officials who lowered
the JapaH4B flag. Notwithstanding
this, while we Are determined not to
concede what we Believe is proper
but to ultimately enforce our demands
should China refuse to ffsseH to rea-
son, the world may rest assured that
Japan will not act hastily but Will
weigh her future actions with the ut
most deliberation."
The Chinese minister at Toxic held
a lengthy conference with Baron
| Chinda, vice minister of the foreign
| office, this morning. During the ses-
sion of the cabinet the Chinese min
lister first contended that because Por-
tugal held Macao waters under treaty
| therefore the waters remained ac-
! tually under Chinese sovereignty.
Later, however, the minister with
drew his contention when instances
| were quoted of other leases those of
| Wei-Hai-Wei and Kiao-Chow.