JAPAN
island. Had Japan needed any confirmation of her title to the ownership of Riukiu, she might have derived it from this incident, since the Chinese Government, by agreeing to indemnify her outlays incurred in protecting Riukiuans, constructively admitted her right to protect them. But the fact is that Japan entertained no misgivings as to the validity of her title. The Riukiu Islands, having been conquered by Satsuma, had for centuries been regarded as an appanage of that fief, and the language and customs of their inhabitants showed unmistakable traces of Japanese affinities. Therefore in 1876 the Tōkyō Government did not hesitate to extend the newly organised administrative system to Riukiu, which thenceforth became "Okinawa Prefecture," the former ruler of the islands being pensioned after the manner of the other feudatories. China entered an objection. She claimed that Riukiu had always been a tributary of the Middle Kingdom, and she was doubtless perfectly sincere in the contention. But China's interpretation of tribute did not seem reducible to a working theory. So long as her own advantage could be promoted, she regarded as a token of vassalage the presents periodically carried to her Court from neighbouring States. So soon, however, as there arose any question of discharging a suzerain's duties, she classed those offerings as insignificant interchanges of neighbourly courtesy. It was true that Riukiu had followed
42
