Page:The Truth about China and Japan - Weale - 1919.djvu/65

 Japan's determination to wage war against China came in 1894—immediately she had signed her treaty with Britain abolishing extraterritoriality in Japan. War was held by her a necessary step not only to consummate her international emancipation but to take from China rights which embarrassed her. The facts that follow have supreme importance to-day.

The British treaty abolishing extraterritoriality was signed on the 16th July, 1894, when events in Korea, due to the so-called Tong Hak rebellion, had led to the landing of both Chinese and Japanese troops. The first act of war, the sinking of the chartered transport "Kowshing" carrying Chinese reinforcements by a Japanese cruiser, did not occur until the 25th July, i.e. until nine days after the treaty had duly been signed in London. In other words, Japan was working by time-table on the accepted Prussian model. Land-fighting was delayed until three days later, Japan only issuing her declaration of war on 1st August, having on the 23rd July broken into, and taken possession of, the royal palace and carried off the Queen and her children, which allowed her to appoint a puppet Regent.