Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1894 — CHINA READY TO QUIT [ARTICLE]

CHINA READY TO QUIT

WILL OPEN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS DIRECTLY WITH JAPAN. China Said to Be Willing to Pay an Indemnity of One Hundred Million Taels Besides AU Japan’s Expeusca —Special Envoy Dispatched. Bears an Olive Branch. De Ting, the chief of the imperial customs at Tien Tsiu. who was recently summoned to Pekin in order to confer with the government as to ways and means for raising money for the war, has left for Japan in order to arrange terms of peace. The departure of the Chinese customs chief for Japan is regarded by officials in Washington as the result of Japan’s demand for a direct offer from China. The De Ting mentioned in the cable is said to be Dietering. a German, who occupies the position of commissioner of customs. That he should be sent as the peace envoy is accounted for by officials on the ground that an indemnity would probably be secured on the customs receipts. It has been one of Japan’s contentions that she would expect to receive the customs receipts of the big Chinese ports in case an indemnity was arranged. It is said that the Chinese envoy will probably be the guest of United States Minister Dun at Tokio. Japanese officials have been accorded every courtesy. Although Japan shows no signs of exhaustion, fiscal or military, her Government and people ought to be satisfied with the magnificent progress already achieved in humbling a power ten times more formidable as to numbers and allied with the most aggressive imperial sovereignties of Europe and Asia. England’ interests are implicated with China’s; Russia’s are complicated with China’s. If Japan can arrange peace which, first, shall completely detach Corea from China; which, secondly, shall give no new footing to Russia on the northeast nor to England in the ports and mines of Corea, Japan will prove herself not only a war power of distinguished rank, notwithstanding her insular insignificance and her comparatively small numbers, but she will have outwitted the entire array of European diplomatists who have been hovering over the contest like vultures expecting to prey on both contestants. China will bear watching in all states of negotiation for peace. Shameless in treachery, recreant to pledges, savage to captives, barbarous in all respects in which she has not been partially civilized by force, her diplomats will not hesitate to cheat even their own agent in the negotiations.