"The Japan papers generally are discuss ing the probable results of the situation in Formosa, and at the same time review the causes which led to the occupation of that island, together with the attitude of the Chinese towards the Japanese Government in relation to it.
The Japan Mail says The settlement of the Formosa question now depends upon the reception given to Yanigawara at Peking. The Japanese Government are willing to evacuate their position in the Island if the Chinese Government will engage to occupy it, and enforce on the savages such discipline as will prevent the recurrence of the outrages which the Expedition was sent to redress. The Japanese Government also require the admission of the Cabinet at Peking that it has hitherto been in the right, and has been justified in sending the Expedition. With' this acknowledgment it would be satisfied without the payment of any indemnity or any claim for the expense: incurred. Whether the Chinese Government will give the desired admission must remain a question for some time. But it is far from impossible. The general disposition of the Cabinet will be to avoid war if possible, and however informal may' have been the answer given to the Japanese Secretary of Legation by the Tsung-li-yamen on the subject of the jurisdiction of China over the savage tribes, it has been denied that the tenour of the er was to deny all responsibility for their acts, The interpretation of the answer, therefore, will hinge on the disposition of the Peking Cabinet, and if this be peaceable, n satisfactory arrangement will follow. "We may continue, then, to hope for the best."
The Japan Gazette in criticising an article in the Mail says:—*It is perfectly true that there has been much said by foreigners in blame of the general acts of the present Government of Japan; and the real cause of this apparent inimical criticism lies in the determined opposition of the present members of the Government to the de-in Japan although the natives are themsel vinced that their yielding would be for the benefit of the empire. The result is that they have weakened the old friendly feeling; and yet, later, thi will be obliged to yield. the opin of some, that foreign Ministers have, in consequence of this antagonism of the Japanese Ministers; stirred the Chinese against the Japanese. - This can hardly be s0. Every one ought to know that it is the duty of a Minister of a foreign country resident at one Court, to inform the representative of his Sovereign in an adjacent territory of any such proceedings s are going on there with regard to the possessions of that ndjacont territory. So the foreign Ministers here naturally represented the doings of the Japanese Government in respect of Formosa, to the representatives of their various countries hina. There is nothing hostile in this (there certainly is nothing unfriendly in letting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan know their views of such an ente prise." The same paper also says all nonsense to talk of any serious wish of the foreign community to see China attack Japan, Should such a misfortune for both countries happen, as that war should be declared, Japan will see that she has the sympathy, at least, of all foreigners on er soil. But we do not believe in the likelihood of war." The article concludes with an expression of belief in the speedy ation of the island by the invaders, in unison with recent events:—" In all lik li hood we shall see the Japanese troops leave Formosa, directly a guarantee is given by China against further cruelties on the part of the savages; and that arrangement will not only be satisfactory one to both parties, but it will entitle Japan to the gratitude of the whole world."
Some interesting items as to the position of the two armies in Formosa, are given by Tane Rikugun Shosho, an officer lately returned to Yedo from the island. He says:—" On the 2ist June, the Tautai of the city of Tsiwan, with several officers from Amoy, arrived in the Bay of Liankiao,.with two ships of war and troops—the Chinese ensign, the yellow dragon, waving in the wind. Next day, the nese mission landed, and had an inter with Saigo Totoks, our Commandet-in-chief, at the headquarters at Keesan. Conferences also took place on the 25th and 26th. The Chinese Government required that, as the whole island of Formosa is now tranquilized, the Japanese should immediately retire, delivering it up to the Chinese. Saigo replied that he could nut move one inch at the command of the Chinese government, but only at that of Japan. The Chinese then ofered to $500,000 as indemnity if he would withdraw. But Saigo said he had no power to settle whether the troops should remain or depart. Since then several discussions have taken place. Admiral Akamatsu and Fukushima, Japanese Consul at Amoy, went to consult with Yanagiwara, Japanese Ambassador in Chiva, but nothing could be settled until after an interview with the Chinese Government. Sixty thousand Chinese soldiers are assembled at Taiwan, who affect to despise our small army, and act insolently towards them. But our men feel no fear of them."
A Japanese letter from Formosa thus speaks of the Mission to Saigo:—f When the Mission from China came to the camp at Liankiao, to confer with Saigo Totoku, 'a company of Chinese soldiers escorted the Commissioner. Their condition was laughable. Under their broad brimmed hats, their hair hung down their backs, their clothes being of white cotton, with wide pantaloons. They were extremely dirty, and their feet, for the most part, hi Many of them were tall men, Their arms were not uniform—some carrying breech-Iondera and some muzzle-loaders of different kinds. While the conference was gain on, they took no care to dress their ranks, but chewed sugar-cane and betel-nut, and laughed and talked loudly. 'The man' who seemed to be their commander was very tired. Ho came to our camp kitchen and stood there stupitied, A sailor him some daikon (salted radish) which he ato with a relish, and asked for more. Aitor the conference, dinner was, provided for the Chinese troops; who fell upon it like ants, pouncing upon it with greediness. Although they are trained in the English style, they were accompanied by drums and gongs. They looked so contemptible that some of our fellows proposed to go for and disperse them. If all the Chines were like these, we should have no fear of them, whatever their number."
'A Japanese in China, writes:—' The rumours of the Formosa Expedition affect those Japanese who are established in Shanghai and Amoy. The Chinese take us to be spies, and dislike holding any intercourse with ut Their excitement is miler to ours when the four American ships arrived in the Bay of Uraga in 1853. They have no reliable information, but fancy that 100,000 Japanese troops' have invaded Formosa from the south-west, and another 100,010 from the opposite direc tion; that Saigo has surrounded the whole island with a large fleet of three ironclads and ten steam men-of-war. In some places they say the Japanese are aiming to become the sole rulers of the island, and that next they will seize Cores, after the exam-Te looks as if they supposed that a large of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (alco-sama.)
army of ours had actually invaded the Empire."
'A notification signed by Sanjo Daijin, and dated 27th July, has been issued from Tokio, allowing all merchants to buy or sell guns and ammunition freely; but apprising the Military Department of their operations,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.