Year: 1879

progress that delighted him in Japan. there had been
great progress 1t was beginning. and no one could
foresee what might from it in twenty or thirty
years. Japan should be in q position where sne
could assist China and not allow this grievance to
grow up and tester aud be the source or ALIENATION
and irritation now and of trouble in the future.
| Mr. Yoshida said that there no higher con-
sideraton in the minds OF japanese states than
friendly relations with China China was their near
neighbor. Their commerce had continued ioF cen
turies There were points of identity In their
civilization, religion. language. laws and customs
which made the friendship OF China very oear 70
Japan.


General Grant said that what China felt now was
that Japan desired to humiliate them. The Formo-
san expedition had been attended with circum
stances that looked like humiliation. They re-
garded the occupation Of Loochoo as an advance to
Formosa They looked upon these islands as con-
trolling the channels of their trade with tho
Pacific, and that whoever held them
would be able to check this trade ut
any time. This argument presented by the
viceroy at Tientsin. a distinguished and an able
man 1t had not been alluded to in the argument of
the Embassy but no doubt it had more weight with
such a man as Li-Hung Chang than any other TWAS
an argument that would be apt to strike statesman
who was looking out for the welfare of his own
country. If Japan holds Loochoo she dominates
all the channels Of tho Chinese trade. This was
most important matter to China


This point evidently had not occurred to the JAP
Ministers. and it was explained with some
minuteness Colonel Grant illustrated his fathers
argument by tracing with pencil the lines of the
Loochoo Islands and their contiguity to the China
ccast and the control they would exercise over the
trade.


GRANT AND EUROPEAN POLICY IN ASIA.


General Grant continued by saying that there were
other reasons why Japan should. if possible have
complete and amicabie understanding with China.
Tho only Powers who would derive any beneftfrom
war would be foreign Powers. They knew that
the policy Of some of the European Powers was to
reduce Japan and China into the dependence which
had been forced upon other nations. He had seen
indications Of this policy during his travels in the
East which made his blood boil. He saw it in Siam
and China and Japan. In Siam the King was unable.
he had told the General. to protect his people
from opium. In China opium had been forced upon
the people. That was great crime against CIV
ilization slavery In Japan. only the other day,
he saw the Germans deliberately violate Japanese
quarantine by sending down German gunboat and
taking German merchantman out of quarantine.
No European power would dare to do such thing
N the United States. But it illustrates European
policy in the East. II should ensue between
China and Japan European Powers would end it in
their own way aud to their own advantage, and to
the disadvantage Of the two nations. Your weakness
and your quarrels their opportunity. Such
question Loochoo offers tempting opportunity
tor the interference of unfriendly diplomacy.


Minister Ito said that those all grave consid
eratons, but Japan. standing on her immemorial
rights, had simply carried out act Of sovereign
power over her own dominions.


General Grant answered that he could not see how
Japan having gone SO far. could recede. But there
might be way to meet the suscepublities Of China
and at tho time not infringe any of the rights
Of Japan.


JAPAN THANKS GENERAL GRANT.


The conversation here took range that do not
feel at liberty to embrace. propositions and sug-
gestions were made which it would be premature to
disclose. and which. in fact. would have no value
until they were considered and adopted by the Cabi
nets Of Japan and China. have only given you the
threads of General Grants conversation, which COW
cred great many points and went over the whole
field OF politics in Asia. The Japanese Ministers
showed the most conclatory spirit General Saigo
did not speak English. but Mr.. Ito and Mr.. Yoshida
both conversed Auently in that tongue. The For
mosan expedition. which General Saigo commanded.
came up. and WAS discussed for some time. Various
points in the Japanese statement were commented
upon and explained. and from q formal conference
upon grave questions Of State the meeting into
most interesting and suggestive conversation.
The afternoon was warm and the clouds swept over
tho mountains. and it was pleasant to watch the
rays toying around the stately cedars that clothed
tho mountain sides. lighting up the green SUBMITS
and losing themselves III the clouds and the mist.
But this land of the mountains is also land of rain,
and suddenly the black clouds the
ridges and We had rafting summer thunder
storm. When the talk out and the rain
ceased Minister Ito said that what had been
communicated by General Grant would be
submitted to tho Cabinet and be considered very
carefully. He had no idea what the Cabinet would
say. He would probably have occasion to speak
with him again the subject. But on behalf of the
government OF Japan he desired to express their
thanks and their gratitude to General Grant for hav
ing presented this question. aud for his efforts to
continue between Japan and China relations OF
peace, based upon the honor and Independence OF
both nations. Japan had desire but peace. and
no feeling toward China but desire to preserve the
friendship which had existed 50 long.


The Ministers dincd with General Grant in the
evening. This morning General Saigo went to the
warm baths In the mountains. and His Excellency
Minister Ito returned to Toxic to bring the Loochoo
question before the Cabinet