Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — PEACE IN THE EAST [ARTICLE]

PEACE IN THE EAST

ORIENTAL NEWS CONFIRMED OFFICIALLY. Diplomatic Advices Received at Washington Make It Certain that the Negotiations Between China and Japan Have Ended Happily. Terms Agreed Epon. Official confirmation of the report of the signing of the treaty of peace between the plenipotentiaries of Japan and China has been received by Secretary Gresham. It came from Minister Dun at Tokio, was very brief and merely stated that a treaty of peace had been finally concluded. The minister's cablegram gave no information respecting the conditions on which the terms of the agreement between the powers had been arrived at. The Chinese Legation also received advices from Japan announcing the signature of terms of peace between China and Japan. It is understood in Washington that the terms agreed upon are in conformity with those o already published, saving the amount of the indemnity, which was subsequently reduced, probably to an amount estimated to be sufficient to cover all of Japan’s war expenses. It is doubted, though, whether it has been brought down as low as $109,000,000 in gold. In respect of the territory which Japan is to possess it is understood in Washington that aside from Formosa, which is absolutely ceded, the rest will be subject only to temporary occupation, probably until all of the indemnity has been paid. This would leave Japan in temporary possession of the entire Laotung peninsula from Port Arthur, at the southern extremity, clear up to Mookden, the capital of Manchuria, on the north, and from the Liao river, on which New Chang is situated, on the west to the Corea n border on the east. This amounts to about 3,000 square miles and is populated by about 2,000,000 people. The report of a condition that there should be an alliance offensive and defensive between Japan and China is not credited in Japanese circles, where it is not believed to have been even suggested. On the other hand, some of the diplomatic body are inclined to believe that the alliance has really been made with an earnest purpose to execute it. They see in it the realization of the prophecy of an eminent scholar recently made that these two nations would eventually combine against occidental methods and commerce, and their watchword would be “The orient for the orientals.” Li Hung Chang is said to be convinced of the wisdom of such a combination, believing that by a close alliance with Japan, China would secure in return practical control of the commerce of the greatest trading people of the East. Such a consummation as this would mean the destruction of European commercial interests in the orient and it may be that strong opposition will soon develop on the part of some of the powers to this feature of the agreement. It is to be noted that this agreement is not final in all respects, but is simply a preliminary agreement, indicating on broad lines the ultimate terms of a definite treaty of peace which may not be perfected for months to come.