Year: 1872

YOKOHAMA, August 81, 1872.


The matter of the Peruvian ship Maria Luz is
still occupying the attention of the Japanese
authorities and threatens to assume serious pro-
portions, from the that several questions of
international law are necessarily brought into the
matter.


The Maria Luz left Macao for Peru, loaded with
coolies, in command of Lieutenant Hereiro, OF the
Peruvian Navy. She put into Yokohama in dis
tress, having encountered extremely bad weather
after leaving Macao One day coolie jumped
overheard from the ship and swan to the English
man-of-war Iron Duke. The officers of that ship
delivered the man over to the Japanese authori-
ties, who returned him to the ship. Mr.. Watson.
the newly-arrived British Charge d'Afraires, took
the matter up and complained to the Japanese
authorities, ntimating that the cooie traffic was
the slave trade In disguise and urging upon
them the necessity OF taking some steps In the
matter. MIR. Watson then quietly left Yokohama
for Hakodadi. The Japanese, however, thought
proper to act upon his suggestions. They stopped
the ship, and are now engaged in examining the
coolies as to their treatment while on board and
the nature of their contracts.


That this coolie traffic should be stopped Is the
general opinion Of all mankind It is equally as in
famous as the slave trade, and although in Macao
certain forms are gone through, so that the coole
shall appear in the light OF voluntary emigrant.
the whole thing is such q bare1aced fraud that
almost Invariably the poor creature Is owed away
under matches before he is aware that he has been
engaged for long service In a foreign country.
That we do not hear Of more vessels Of this kind
coming into ports without captain or crew only
be ascribed to the stolidty and indifference of
large majority OF the coolies. But much as we may
deprecate this trade and anxious as we may be to
see 1t abolished, it appears rather hard that Japan
should have to act as pioneer in this matter The
grave international questions that arise and the
ignorance OF the Japanese the subject of inter-
national law. will most probably place them In a
very false position.
INTERNATIONAL LAW AGAINST THE IMPULSES OF


HUMANITY.


In the first, place there Is no treaty between
Japan and Peru.


In the second place the vessel was not bound to
any port in Japan, but forced into the port OF
Yokohama by stress OF weather


Thirdly, the provisions made by the Macao gov
ernment in reference to the coolie trade have all
been complied with, in form at least-namely, each
cOolie has signed contract for number of years
OF labor for certain monthly stipend, which has
been paid them as 1t fell due.


Now, the questions are, Can vessel or Its off,
GERS be tried in Yokohama for offences committed
In another port, especially as the vessel has been
forced into the port "by the act OF GOds'' The
coolies being on board In due form as voluntary
emigrants-althOugh they almost all state that
when they were taken on board they knew not
where they were gong-can any earthly power
assume to go behind these appearances and the
contracts signed, sealed and devered9


WHAT THE COOLIES SAY.


The coolies also complain of Ill treatment though
when the vessel first arrived here 1t was
visited by several members OF the press and the
coolies were Interrogated through an interpreter,
and tney expressed themselves then as being per-
fectly satisfied with their treatment and condition.
The appearance OF the vessel went far to corro-
borate this Now, however, on examination they
state that they are not treated well; that they DO
not receive sufficient food; that they are not al.
lowed sufl1cient time on deck, and thar they have
been roughly handled by the captain and oncers
who have In some instances cut the coolies hair
queues or The examination will probably last four
or five days more, and the result is uncertain,
though have reason to believe that the Japanese
will release the coolies and send them back to
China and then allow the vessel to 60. The cap
tain has protested against these proceedings urg.
ing that he Is now at loss Of $1oo per day. and he
was ready for sea some twenty days age. lie says
that he Is quite willing that the Japanese should
seize his vessel and then the Japanese and Peru
Wan governments can settle the matter between
them. -a rE


IHh fhESS fOR FREEDOM.


One Of the local papers, In commenting on this
Affair." contained the following sentence :-"But, in
real truth, little more light Is required to show that
the vessel is to all intents and purposes engaged in
the slave trade, and that those who sail her de-.
serve the fate OF prates" The captain OF he shin
demanded an apology for this language falling In
which ne has sued the editor OF the paper for libel
instant.


DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES.


NJ mi
lished by order OF the State Department. Is letter
from Mr. De Long, the American Minister to Japan,
wherein he states that he mad been applied to by
the Japanese government to request the Secretary
OF State OF the United States to recommend to Mr.
some gentleman OF superior legal attainment who
would be commissioned to come to Japan as legal
portance. q this appointment, and strong
70 recommend superior a man The H result result
Of this application was the appointment Of E.
to :hat Of Examiner Of Claims HIS appointment


states S Tas as pSss ppsea4y o. lis lis
varied requirements, his private character, &c,
bestowed upon him that American residents in
Japan felt quite proud that representative Amerl-
aa G seSa M courses S nss bent ea
sIcn as to lead all foreigners to believe that those
% Wno Wrose @ those % euogsc paragraphs concerning
The Japanese to place very low estimate upon the
american idea OF superior ability, and so forth. As
long as Mr.. Smith kept himself to himself and dld
not parade himself miracle OF legal lore
and as moral example, IL was nobody,s
business to take cognizance OF him. But since
Mr.. Smith has chosen TO step forward In the ca
pacity OF special press correspondent TO America
II is time to analyZe his peculiar facilities and abili
ties ofjudgment, and this Is freely done.


THE MISSION IN WASHINGTON.


a MG vii BY ps Hnes ecee e
recall. ! have heard that complaints have been
made against him br the oflcer OF finance VINO Is
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