The Chinese profess even now not to be afraid of
total defeat. A correspondent of the Central News has been admitted to the Great Council, and has there interviewed- Prince Kung. That statesman denounced the war as unjust, but stated that as China had been weak and her Generals- incompetent "she must suffer." He could not understand what Japan wanted, though he admitted she had become a. great Power, but if the terms were exorbitant the war would go on. Heaven and the great Powers would forbid Japan tcs conquer the whole of China. He thought an indemnity of one hundred million pounds sterling a monstrous one,. and said nothing of territorial cessions. This is, of courses all meant for the public, especially in Tokio, and does not in the least prove what instructions have been given to Li Hung Chang, who has recovered Court favour, but has not started yet. We suspect that Prince Kung and his colleagues will be a little startled when they hear what are the Japanese demands, and what are to be the guarantees for their concession. Everything will turn upon the latter point, for the Japanese will not trust Pekin one inch. Does anybody happen tcs know with certainty who is the present representative of the Ming dynasty ? Is there one ; or were the princes of that house all killed out?
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