The Washington herald., 1908-03-16
Ill FEELING DEEPENS.
Growing Friction Between China
and Japan Interests officials,

anu japan Interests officials.
Despite the fact that an agreement has
been reached between China and Japan
over the seizure Of the Tatsu Maru. the
principal interest among State Depart
mept officials continues to lie in the fact
that the friction over the seizure of the
steamer is one of the indications of the
growing hostility between China and
Japan.
The main reason for this mutual i'll
feeling is the aggressiveness of Japan in
Manchuria and the efforts on the part Of
China TO reassert her ancient sovereignty
over that province. The situation In
Manchuria, it is believed here. will prob
ably become more serious, and may be
the cause OF future trouble between the
Two countries.
While China has not made a formal OBJ
lection to the United States. or, as far as
IS known here, TO any other nation re-
garding japanese activity in Manchuria.
there have been several complaints from
unofficial Chinese sources received at the
State Department on this subject. These
communications are being considered by
Secretary Root.
version OF seizure.
The Chinese version Of the seizure of the
TatsU MarU is contained in the following
official dispatch received here yesterday:
'The japanese steamship Tatsu Maru.
being engaged in smuggling arms and
ammunition when lying at anchor at
Kowhowyang, a part Of Chinese terri
tOrial waters, near Macao. 10 unload her
cargo. was boarded by the naval and Gus
toms officers of Canton to make examina-
tiOn, upon which it was found that the
hold OF the ship had been opened. the
steam winch fixed up. and one package
of her cargo already discharged.
The captain Of the ship himself avow-
edly confessed that she was unloading
munitions or war in the aforementioned
locality. Seeing that within Chinese ter
ritorial waters there was a violation of
the customs regulations, and the fifth
article of the treaty between China and
Japan, which provides that no discharge
of munitiOn Of war is deemed lawful un-
less a permit has been obtained from the
Chinese customs. the viceroy of Canton.
while communicating with the Japanese
consul asking him to make a Joint invests
cation of the case, first ordered the de-
tention Of the vessel.
Instant Release Demanded.
The latter refused to comply with the
formers request, but demanded the i'm
mediate release of the Tatsu Maru. The
viceroy, fully assured that both treaty
provisions and customs regulations had
been violated, firmly insisted upon a
joint investigation. Upon inquiry, the
said vessel was found 10 have been char
tered by British firm, named Butter
field & Swire, TO ship a cargo of coal to
HOngkong. no mention being made of
any munitions of war in the charter
papers. The ship. however, did not enter
the harbor Of Hongkong when passing
by it, but sailed TO Macao. and within
Chinese territorial waters made herself
ready 70 unload her cargo of arms and
ammunition. The cargo was found to be
consigned to a Chinese merchant named
Tan Pill, Of the shop Kuangho, in Ma
Gao. and intended for the revolutionists
and not at all for the use Of the local
authorities of Macao. In order TO pre-
vent anything happening to disturb the
peace, the Tatsu Maru could not but be
detained for the time being, so that in
veStigatiOn might be made, and certainly
there was no intention 70 conhscate the
vessel Immediately after her seizure.
Claims by Japan.
"A communication was received from
the japanese minister In which he set
forth four claims: Cd The restoration of
the steamer. as we'll as of her cargo;
C0 the punishment Of the officials; CO an
apology for the hauling down of the jap
anese fiag, and CD payment of an indem-
nifty for the losses sustained.
@The hauling down OF the Japanese flag
being an unintentional wrong on the part
of the Canton officials. an apology has
been rendered by the foreign Office TO the
japanese representative. and telegraphic
order was issued TO Canton to reprimand
the officers who lowered the flag.
Japan Refuses Mediation.
"As to the other claims the foreign of
flee suggested to hand the matter over to
mediation and TO request Admiral Moore.
of the British navy to be a referee to
decide the dispute. The japanese min
lister, however, refused to accept media
lion, and he was so persistent that an
other suggestion for settling the case,