Year: 1879

From the Celestial Empire. July %. 1921


Tho Loochooan question n probably creating
moro interest than any other at tho present
moment in this part of tho world. 1t is diff
cult to judge correctly of the valuo. oven
of any of tho stories current on this
subject. 1t is said that the Japanese are eager
to pick quarrel with China aud to bring
about war for which they consider that they
better prepared. and which might result In their
levying upon China ''war indemnity" of a
few hundred millions to their great satisfaction
and profit. dollars being tho great want of tho
Japanese government just pow The Loochoos are
known by both sides to be utterly valueess In
themselves. and the seizure is only intended as
slap in the face for China. and apparently this il
well understood by tho Chinese themselves. We
have heard that tho British and French Ministers
have been asked at Pekin to intervene and en-
deavor to bring about settlement. and that these
Ministers, after consultations with the Japanese
Ambassador. informed the Chinese government
that tho Japanese government were quito willing to
give up the Loochoos on receiving some other
islands in exchange. This rcply seems to have
utterly disconcerted and amazed the Chinese Minis
ters, who have not known what to say to do
next It appears, however that they asked General
Grant when he was In Pekin, to undertake to arbi-
trate the mattcr. limiting to him at the same time
that decision IN favor OF the Japanese claim would
be more agreeable to China than decision in her
favor. The reason tor this would obviously be that





to Japan without tho unpleasant alternative of
fighting


The Chinese government are evidently afraid that
IL they yield to Japan in this matter without some
such plausible loophole have indicated tho
Japanese will make raid upon and possibly conquer
the Corea. This would give them a footing on the
mainland OF Asia and tho border of China and
this once secured tho move might be upon
Pekin itself. The great question is. therefore. at
the moment whether the Chinese should endeavor
to destroy snch programme by making the
fvof dn0illn nj han nlvao yI.athA
should prepare and wait So far judge from
what we and hear the Chinese government while
Of the difficulty without war; are yet worry little
hopeful of succeeding and are making preparations
for what they fear Is inevitable. Now. IL does
actually break out within the noxt few months be-
tween tho two countries what are their respective
chances Of SUCCESS? II tho Chinese decide to send
an expedition to attack Japan we feel certain
that it is foredoomed to certain failure,
and that not ship would return to tell
training longer. and havo many more
toned to the handling of large ships than tho
Chinese. and arc in every way better prepared; We
doubt whether thoy could successfully attack China
on her own SOIL but that they could successfully re-
sist an attack by Chinese heet and army We feel
is evidently very loath to tight; but the
innate conceit Of Chinese officials is al
% heV ts ey
really have to hight them. War; doubt interferes
with trade. but is not always an unmtgared curse;
and ii it brought in this case the government of
China its knees to little country like Japan,
which has gained power out OF all proportion to
rest M Of the World it might prove as il has often
proved before. the first step toward real advance
ment and improvement


THE EXISTING RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND


CHINA-ExTRAcr FROM A JAPANESE JOURNAL.


Extract from the Hochil shimbunl


The Impression has recently flHksaining ground
that tho Chinese government has some consid-
cradle time past boen influenced by hostile feeling
toward Japan. aud that this feeling instead grad
ually decreasing. is daily becoming moro and more
intensified. until ut last we forced to the
viction that China looks upon her sister EmpIre
as an enemy. 1t may perhaps be thought by
superficial observers that recent events In Loochoo
and Corea have directly caused this unpleasant
feeling to exist, but maintain that this unpleas-
antnoss has been growing for u considerable time.
and that its origin be found in the progressive
steps taken during recent years by the Japanese
government and the friendly relations we have es-
tabished with those very foreign nations that China
presumptuousy affects to despise. 1t is also fact
that China has regarded with distrust and suspicion
the creation in Japan of powerful army and navy.
and we'll conceive that oil these circum-
stances. taken in conjunction with the recent
occurrences in Loochoo and Coroa have aggravated
the predisposition on the part OF China to treat
in hostile manner. 1t must, however, bo borne in
mind that the reorganization of our naval and mill
tary forces was thrust upon us as matter OF inter-





sderations while In the measures adopted in Corea
and Loochoo Japan only acted upon her incontesta-
and navy the Corean and Loochooan affairs all OF
which have occurred recently, havo already
pointed out. at the bottom of Chinas long standing
ill-feoing toward US. We believe 1t Is entirely
ing to the policy of China being completely diff
fercnt to that Of JAPAN and that unless China
the field of progress have already DONE 1t will
bo utterly hopeless to establish friendly relations
q sound solid aud satisfactory basis. Japan has
tabished tho postal aud telegraph services aud has
In nvery ticaht man str nnalv
cndeavored to assniilato with tho European system
and thus, although formerly the country greatly
sembled China. now tho contrary is the and
become like the nations OF Europe and America. 1t
is therefore only natural to suppose that China
hostility she boars toward the Western nations and
for q similar reason. 1t Is well known that the
Chinese are actnated by deep seated hatred and
contempt for all other natonalities, although since
the English have often dofeltcd them they dare
not show their hostility too openly. and that inter-
course betwecn China and other nations is
always accompanied by the uneasy feeling that
unpleasant complications may at any moment
arise. Now China evidently looks upon us In these
days exactly the same footing other foreign
nations, forgetting the ancient ties OF friendship.
and forced to the conclusion that unless
China progresses or We rotrograde. the resumption
Of former relations is impossible ana that this
would have been the oven IL the Corea and Loo
chooan affairs had never been heard of. great
deal is being said and written respecting the exist
ing feeling in China with regard to Japan. but
certainly think that the real foundation for the
whole trouble should not be lost sight OF in the
trovcrsy.


BREAKING OF JAPANESE QUARANTINE BY THE


GERMAN SHIP HEsPERA-Is GERMANY IMI-


TATrNG ENGLAND?


From the Toxic Times. August 81


How far tho German community in Japan has
reconcilcd itself to tho high-handcd performances
OF its diplomatic and consular officials In the of
the ship Hesperia. whether it has reconccd
itself at all to an outrage nagrant and unproce-
.tx.. ha..