The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-21
The EXPEDITION TO THE cOREA.
Rear Admiral Rodgers and the
Representatives of the Press.
OF FOREIGN MINISTER'S.
Financial and Comm ercial
Affairs.

changed since last mall There are still evidences Of
dissatisfaction on the part OF the smaller princes,
ana the breach is widening between Sarsuma and
his late conederates Troops are sttll pouring into
Jeddo; they almost all show the crest of Satsuma.
chosin is said to have to have fed from his palace
and is not in his own province. Prince Arima,
daimio whose revenue amounts to 200, 900 kokus
equal to more than million OF dolars), has been
giving refuge to all the Samourn lately belonging
to Toza, Choisn and Hizen who were discharged on
account Of their revenue being reduced to one-tenth
OF their former allotments, and who ready for
anything. This action OF Arima's, whose province
Is IN the island OF Kisnin, has created quite
an excitement in Jeddo, and an order has
been issued denying him and MS men the priv
lege OF coming TO Jeddo. The guardhouses
OF the capital have been multiplied and,
from the appearance Of the city, one would suppose
that an attack is expected 1t is useless to coniec
ture what combinations may arise or what the issue
may be- Foreign ministers know as little about the
intentions Of government officials or Japanese
princes the latest foreign ar wal. The reports
one gets from Japanese, who, from their positions
one would expect to know something. only puzzles
one the more, for they are directly contradictory.
One thing Is CERTAIN that war does result the great
combination win be against Satsuma. Whether he
has succeeded in gaining over to his side the Fo-
Kugawa clan Is not yet certain, although many cir.
cumstances favor the suppos;ion. II he has not,
then he certainly has q hard road to hoe an even
II he effected a reconciliation with the party Of
the old Tycoon he will have his hands full provided
his enemies hold together long enough TO strike
one heavy blow. But we cannot DO better than
await events, but strongly opine that before two
months over there will be general war through
out the country.
On the 18TH inst. the long talked OF expedition to
the COrea left NapaSakt undar the command Of Rear
Admiral John Rodgers accompanied by Mr.. F. F.
Low, Minister PlenipOtentary to China, and his
rctares. The fleet consists or the Colorado mag
ship forty-fve guns; Alaska and Benicja, twelve
guns each; Monocacy double-ender) six guns, and
the Palos, two guns-showlng q total force Of sew
entyseven guns and carr ing about 1900 men. Ac-
cordng to the instructions received from the Secre
tary OF State to Mr. Low. the documents containing
which have been published In Europe America, China
and Japan, the object OF the expedition Is to en-
deavor to make treaty with the Coreans. From
the fact that these oflcial documents have been
widely published 1t could not have been intended
that the expedition should have been kept secret
That 1t Is a most important mission, destined to
bear important results TO the commercial world,
and that 1t Will ultimately lead, no matter how it
may now terminate, to the opening Of the Corea, as
Perry's expedition led to the opening OF Japan,
be matters OF very little doubt. The instructions as
published only go far fol the American officials 10
express 10 the Coreans the desire OF the United
states to enter into amlcable relations with Corea
Should the latter positively oppose such overtires
am led TO believe that instr -ctions are positive to
take no aggressive steps now, but after having de-
vered the letter from the United States government
10 the Corean the fleet Is TO leave with lntimaton
very much like Cato's threat TO the Senate "To go,
but to return" One thing. believe, the Admiral
will endeavor to insist upon, and this perhaps i'm
mediately-a promise for protection to shipwrecked
mariners belonging TO the INTEL States.
lntmation has Already been sent to the Coreans,
through the Chinese government Of The proposed
coming OF the fleet, and the question 49, Will the
Coreans show hostile front, will they allow the
Americans to enter their harbors and deliver their
written requesta The reception given to the French
men couple ofyears ago should almost lead Us to
decide that they will adopt the former II is
said that they feel very elated at having
driven away the. French, and feel capa-
BILE OF clicking all creation" On the other
hand the American force, although In European
eyes 10y no means formidable one, Is vastly supe.
ror to that which the French took with Them and
In themselves may ooze a little when
their eyes are directed towards i've men
posed OF. One thing is certain, that although the
mission is to all ntents paclfc one, we doubt very
much whether Admiral Rodgers WIN leave, Il at.
In The letter OF the Secretary OF State to Mr. Low
the latter was directed to consult with Mr.. George
F. Seward. Consul General for the United States
In China, through whom the attention OF the govern.
ment was first drawn the ACCESSIBILITY OF attempt
ing TO open the Corea. The suggestion wa In all
respects wise one. In the first place, Mr.. Seward
has been twelve years in China, and has devoted
himself during all that time with ali the assiduitY
and energy OF which he is possessed, and with rare
talent and capacity 70 unraye the mysteries Of
ter. But 1t would have been still wiser to have lett
the Whole OF the negotiation to Mr. Seward for Mr..
I.vu nnGc mott ar VvlnInA nv
breadth OF view suited to diplomat. That Mr..
Seward has been consulted according to instruc-
lions, have no reason TO doubt; but am sorry TO
say much TO the disappointment Of all American
residents, MIR. seward does not, as was expected,
for Keeping aIeol cannot say; for the order was
positive to Mr.. Low to request Mr. seward TO accom-
pany him and to consult him upon all measures con.
nected with the mission. IL Is quite possible that
Mr. Seward did not agree with the course proposed
by Mr.. Low, supposing MIR. Low to have course In
view, or that he declined TO play second fiddle in an
affair, when In all fairness he should have led.
with the expedition several civilians have gone.
Admiral Rodgers selected among others scientific
gentleman and a Photographic artist, put. strange
to say, perenptorlly excluded all members or the
press. Why II Is difficult To lind reason. Had It.
been secret mission then ne could scarcely nave
done otherwise b1t rs before stated oil the Official
correspondence has been published FAR and wide, the
object or The expedition definitely stated In the let.
tiers to Mr.. Low and Admiral Rodgers, as likewise, as
nearly as possible could be told, me course 10 be
pursued. II 1t were q secret mission tnen clearly
no outside the navy and diplomatic corps should
have been allowed and even then 1t would be DIM
cult 10 keep the operations OF such an expedition
secret when the execution thereof is TO be entrusted
TO about 500 men, VINO are Is TO be hoped IN the
enjoyment OF the TWO faculties OF hearing aud see
ing. BUT Admiral Rodgers, when he refused per-
mission TO correspondents for American newspapers
TO accom- any the expedition, In the teeth OF letting
other civilians CO. vouchsafci TO give his reasons for
so strange and contradictory an action. We believe
Admiral Rodgers 10 be q brave ana able officer bIt
we sincerely hope for his sake that whenever he Is
called upon TO explain any action to the Navy De-
parrment his pen win not serve MIN SO scurvy a
trick as II evidently did In this Instance The prin.
dangerous TO have ne Sspaper men around him was,
that they chronlcng all they saw and heard, might
inform the COreans what he had done or was doing
In the Corea DO not like 10 the word absurd or
ridiculous" IN commenting on an action OF so high
parsonage as rear admiral In the United States
Navy; but just now am at loss for other adequate
adjectives TO express my meaning. Perhaps the
Admiral labored under The Impression that all the
Coreans could speak English uently or rather that
oil correspondents could not only speak Corean, but
were also gifted with the power Of divinaton, for
he was further afraid that his future purposes"