CHINA AND JAPAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2146, 11 April 1895, Page 21

CHINA AND JAPAN.

AN INDEMNITY DEMANDED/

lokohAMA, April 2. The Japanese Government demand an indemnity of 700,000,000 yen and the cccupalicn of Pekin pending its payment.

[Estimating the silver dollar or yen as of tho value of '3s, which is probably too" high an estimatp, the indcui' ity demanded is about £103,000,000.]

Shanghai, April 3. It is reported that Japan demands, in addition to the payment of an indemnity, the cession of Formosa and southern Manchuria.

Three thousand volunteers have been recrnited at Canton for the defence of the province of Kwangtuug.

April 5. The Chinese at Haichang fired on Japanese officers, who held a flag of trues with a view of communicating in regard to the armistice.

Five transport vessels crowded with cavalry and infantry loft the seaport of Shimonoaeki in Japan before the armistice was arrarigod.

Owing tova foar of a Japanese invasion the Chinese in the southern part of Formosa are fleeing to the northern portion of the island, which is garrisoned by 50,000 experienced, well found, and well armed troops.

Additional booms and torpedoes have been laid for the protection of Swatow and Canton. •

April 6

It is reported that Li Hung Chang, one of the Chinese envoys, has stopped the peace negotiations owing to the retention of Port Arthur by the Japanese.

April 8.

Li Hung Chang has recovered from the recent wound inflicted by a. Japanese fanatic.

Japan claims that China should open for trade with the world districts of 1000 square miles in extent, which contain 200 million people, the cession of Formosa and Southern Manchuria (including Port Arthur), and an indemnity of two million franc?, also the independence of Corea.

The districts which Japan insists shall be thrown open to the world include tho course of the Yang-tse Kiang as far as Chung- KiangFoo, a town in the far interior; the main portion of the Shanghai and Canton rivers, and the Woo3ung Canal. Ching-Kiang-Foo, Ohoo-Foo, Soo-Chow, and Hang-Chow are to be free cities.

Forty Japanese transports are at the Pescadores, and; it is reported that an attack on Canton is intended.

London, April 8. The Times considers the terms demanded by Japan are reasonable.