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The Imperial Government has not failed to make deliberate consideration of the note brought forward by H.B.H. Minister relative to the detention and search of the British steamer Thales by the Japanese man-of-war Yayeyama. The Japanese Government are pot as jet in possession of the full report of the circumstances surrounding the incident, but the fact that the event had happened on the high seas and that the Thales was on her way from Formosa to Amoy may clearly he recognised.
From a brief report so far in hand the Gov- ernment concludes that the troule was the outcome of some misunderstanding of instrue- tions of the Government. Without going into, the details of the occurrence, however, the, Japanese Government admits that the action of the man-of-war was contrary to the Law of Nations. The Japanese Government therefore greatly regrets the occurrence of the incident and offers sufficient reparation for whatever damages the Thales suffered through it.
The Japanese Government will issue instrue-i tions to the man-of-war warning it against the repetition of a similar incident. The Govern ment feels grateful for the manner in which attention is called to the matter and at the same time hopes that Her Majesty's Govern ment will be satisfied with the explanation and reparation offered by the Japanese Government,
A SERIOUS REPORT,
Shanghai. 16th December. It is reported on what we believe to be good authority that German as well as Russian ships have been surveying Kinochon Day, the entrance to which is in about lat. i de to the south of the Shantung Promontory, and studying its capabilities as a naval station. It is a magni- ficent harbour with a difficult entrance, and some 10 fathoms of water. The Chinese had intended before the war to fortify it, and there was military telegraph line between it and Weihaiwei. It is farther stated that this hay will be the head- quarters of the Russian squadron this winter. The Japanese have done everything in their power to render Port Arthur useless, and there was no idea of the Russian squadron wintering
there.
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It is doubtless in connection with this that the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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by the King. Hearing the disturbance outside, they immediately made their way toward the apartments occupied by his Majesty.
At the inner gate their way was barred by the crossed Imyonets of the guards, who refused them admittance. Dr. Underwood knocked up their bayous and they darted in to find the palace in a state of great confusion. People were running about in the labyrinth of rooms and passage ways asking what it all meant and as they entered the King's presence he was distractedly crying:
Where are the Americans?
Here we are, they answered, whereupon the king literally embraced them, crying. That's good! That's good!'
His Majesty insisted on their remaining by his side and actually kept hold of their hands! till morning.
The missionaries did not kuow that the attack was made by friends of the King and had they known it probably it would not have been in their power to have rendered any aid from the inside.
Being personally acquainted with nearly all the American missionaries in Korea. I feel quite safe in saying that they are not men likely to involve themselves in any of the political intrigues which are distracting that unhappy country,
[December 25, 1895.
SKIRMISHES IN FORMOSA. -
Tokyo, 2nd December, A dispatch from the Governor of Formosa, dated 27th ult., states that on 22nd ult. à small band of soldiers were ordered to the vicinity of Taibyo, where mols were reported to be gather- ing. When they reached the place the soldiers were surrounded by about a thousand natives, and desperate fighting occurred, the insurgents. at last being dispersed. Sixty rebels werd killed, but only one Japanese,
left Hosan to subdue some rioting along the On the 24tb ult. Yanmaguchi's detachment
course of the Tamsui river. They encountered stubborn resistance near To-ko-ka, and the fighting two or three hundred insurgents were killed, the loss on the Japanese side being small. The list of wounded, however, includes Lienten- ant Kusakari and 32 soldiers. Later in the day natives, with similar results, fifty of the enemy a reconnoitring party was attacked by the being killed and only three Japanese.
JAPANESE MERCHANTS AND DIRECT FOREIGN TRADE.
At the suggestion of the Department for That they feel a deep interest in the Kingber of Commerce has been holding an investi- Agriculture and Commerce the Tokyo Cham- who has shown them so many marks of his
gation into the prospects of direct export and confidence and favour is not to be wondered at: import by Japanese creants. The result of and that they have responded to his cry for
an examination by the committee appointed has help in his time of personal trouble and danger
now been reported to the Chamber of Commerce, but shows that they are men true to their
and will be forthwith communicated to the De- distress from whatever quarter it may come. calling. with Pars open to hear the cry of
partment. The causes that impede the develop- ment of direct foreign trade are enumerated as That the King has since the mente of the follows:-- 8th of October insisted upon keeping mon about in whese honour and faithfuluess he could rely has no doubt been a great incou- venience to these who found their designs hindered or thwarted thereby. Hence the great effort that is being made to throw upon them the ouns of the late attack on the palace, which, if proved true, would naturally prevent their further ministering to the comfort and safety of his Majesty.
his
explanation, which I feel to be due, not only to the men chiefly concerned, but also to the entire body of American missionaries in Korea.
Thanking you for the space allowed for this
THE MAHOMMEDAN REBELLION.
Ministry of War las telegraphed to the Viceroy at Nanking to send four of the best ships of the Nauyang squadron to winter at Chefoù, where they will probably be joined by the new torpedo- boat cateliers, the Fiting and Feiging. The A correspondent in Lanchou, Kansu. writing four vessels selected for this purpose are the Huantai 1,500 tons, Captain Wa Kó-wei, Non-
ou the 15th of October, says that everything in that city was quiet, and that there was little sheng, 2,200 tons. Captain Li Tien, Kaichi,
cause for apprehension. He mentions that he 2,480 tons. Captain Wu Chrichan (the last two officers being graduates of the Foochow Navaling if Lanchou had fallen, and enquiring as to had just received a telegram frem Peking, ask. School, and Nanshai, 2,200 tons. Captain Yuan Chia-kao.
the present situation, from which he infers that the state of matters has been greatly exaggerated
Later.
It is stated that Peking has refused its con- sont to Russia's making a naval station at Kino- chou Bay. Whether Peking will withdraw this refusal remains to be seen; perhaps the new Ministry of War understands that where Russia gets her little finger in her whole hand and arm will follow-N, Ú. Daily News.
THE RECENT ATTACK ON THE PALACE AT SEOUL AND THE MISSIONARIES.
The Rev. Dr. Reid writes to the N. C. Daily News:
It is with deep regret that I have seen several published accounts of the disturbance in the Korean capital which implicate some of the American missionaries as instigators and parti- cipators in that unfortunate affair.
I have all along felt the extreme improbabi- lity of any such complicity and from recent letters from friends who were in Seoul at the time of the fiasco and who are in a position to know whereof they write. I am fully confirmed in my belief that the missionaries had nothing whatever to do with inspiring or abetting the attack on the palace.
At the time of the attack Dr. Underwood and
to other missionaries were in the Palace grounds, their presonco having becu requested
at the coast.
He informs us that the whole of the Mahom medaus in the province had not risen in rebel- hon; the insurrection was confined to the dis- trict between Lanchon and the Tibetan border, east and west, and from Hsiuing to within two days journey from Tsinchou, north and south. The rebels, finding that the Mahommedaus generally would not rise, Fave up all intention of attacking Lanchon, and concentrated their efforts on Hochou and Hsining. Hsining, when he wrote, was besieged. The gutes were closed, and all means of communication cut off. The city, however, would probably be able to hold out for seine time and as troops were arriving from Peking it would doubtless soon be relieved.-N. C. Daily News.
Kaisha and the Osaka cotton-spinning com The arrangement between the Nippon Yusen
panies with regard to the carriage of cotton from Bombay. The Kobe Chronicle says, caine to tions between the cotton spinners and the an end last month. As the result of negotia steamship company, however. the previous arrangement has been renewed for another two years at the same rate of freight. It will be remembered that the agreement
was that members of the Cotton-Spinners Association were under penalty to import all their Indian cotton by the Nippon Yusen Kaisha steamers at i a certain fixed rate of freight.
(1) Imperfection of the credit system; (2) the high rates of interest in Japan as compared with those ruling in the West; (3) the ignorance of the Japanese merchants engaged in direct trade as to the condition of commerce abroad; (4). manufactures and frequent deterioration of want of uniformity in the quality of Japanese manufacturing processes.
Recommendations were drawu up as to the means of removing these impediments. In the first place the Chamber urges that the Con- sulates abroad should be increased and more care exercised in the appointment of Consuls; secoudly, that banking facilities should be in- creased: (3) Japanese merchants should improve their knowledge of the conditions of trade abroad; (4) the Customs accommodation should Government should be made through Japanese be increased: (5) foreign purchases by the
simplified: (6) the extension of the mercantile merchants, and the official procedure should be marine: (7) trade exhibitions: (S) the adoption of measures to prevent had work being put on the market.
and recommendations is somewhat noteworthy. The confession involved in the conclusions
-Kobe Chronicle.
KOREAN INDEPENDENCE.
It is significant to read that Count Inouye realises the extreme difficulty presented by an independent Korea. According to the brief account of an interview which appears in one of the Japanese papers, the Count says that Korea possessess abolutely no self-reliance to enable her to stand alone, and continually looks to one or the other power for assistance or pro- tection. This is an admission that the policy of Japan-which was avowedly directed through- out to securing the independence of Korea- has failed completely, so that the Japanese are in the position of having pulled down what neither they nor any other power can at present, build up. Count Inouye suggests that the peninsular kingdom should be placed under the joint protection of the powers-a conclusion to forced, though the practical working out of which many observers in the Far East are being
such a scheme presents enormous difficulties. If the Powers are to protect, some respousi- bility is cast upou them
as regards the administration and government of the country, and it is quite conceivable that the settlement of such questions would prove as great a menace to the peace of the Far East as if Korea were left to her own devices. It seems
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