The New York herald., 1875-09-25
JAPAN AND C0REA
The Relations Between the Two Nations
as Far as Historically Known.
COREAN DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
Prolonged Suspension of Tribute
Will There Be War?
cOREAY DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
HOW AMERICAN TRAVELLERS FARE.


other seems worthy of serious consideration just
by those who take active interest in japanese politics
Foreigners vho have Of arriving at any accu
rate decision nevertheless themselves by decid
ing the matter in dozen different ways each week
Merchants newspaper writer's and diplomatic func
tonares have thrown the subject into all possible con-
fusion By settling it oGhand, every according to
his momentary interest casual fancy. Nothing is
positively known except that everything Is absolutely
unknown and the ignorance by no means confined 10
foreign circles The japanese themselves, outside OF
narrow Official boundary equally in the dark The
faculty Of keeping Of State is one in which this
government is attaining great proficiency II long ago
learned the necessity Of doing so, If ever wished 10
carry through any important project without interer
ence or molesation from Western represen tatives
and IN this instance it has surrounded itself
with a mystery which ingenuity persist
ence has been able to penetrate More than
six months ago an order privately circulated pro-
ceeding from the highest authority and peremptorly
1orbddng any japanese in the public service, OF what
ever rank hold conversation with strangers upon the
topic Of Corea The injunction has been faithfully
obeyed and al this day there not five foreigners
who have gtmmer Of light as to the purposes Of the
native rulers. Even their own employees from abroad
have been excluded from confidence, in be-
cause their trnstworthiness is doubted others be-
cause their discretion is questionable. SO there is
nothing but rumor upon, and, this Is guided
entirely by conjecture, it naturally takes the widest
and audacous forms Perhaps, in the absence Of
certified facts the best assistance to clear view of the
question mag be afforded by brief statement Of the
few
RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPAN AND ooREA
30 far as they are historically known.
The first instance Of formal intercourse alphabetically
recorded occurred in the reign OF the Mkado Suin
The tenth pf the dynasty which still holds the throne
thirtythree years before Christ AZ this time mes
senger from Amana, one Of the kingdoms into which
Corea then subdiyided, visited Japan bearing
presents, and expressing desire for the interchange
Of such treaties then recognized This envoy
remained three years, and was looked upon as the
representative Of State that acknowledged itself to
be tributary. He followed during several sue
cessve reigns by similar ambassadors 1t is related
that a OF the twelfth Emperor Keko led an army
through the other kingdoms Of Corea the first cen
tury Of era, and reduced them all to submission
but this appears be less clearly established than
other events Of the period. The expedition Of the
Empress lingo, in the third century however is uni
versay accepted historical fact This Amazonian
ruler the whole Of the peninsula and brought
to such OF subjectiou that for ages after no
thought OF emitting the regular tributary embassies
was ever entertained They continued without
interruption until toward the end OF the sixteenth
tury when the Coreans showed the disposition to- de-
clare preference for China The military cheftan Of
that date, Tako, sent formidable army to chastlse
them and not only secured immediate renewal OF
the tributes but held for several years large portion
OF Corean territory we'll Some Of the presents sent
TO his successor Iyeyasu in the century
massive works in bronze and silver this day
hbited in and around the great temples Of Nikwo, IN
fha fptar oF for
messengers Of submission brought their offerings,
and the practice was not set aside until the
overthroE Of the Tdkun's family the line Of
military chienains in 1s6S Sauce then they
have never been renewed The japanese have pre-
served the little spot OF land which their own repre-
sentatves have resided, and in spite Of many ailega
tons to the contrary, have never been seriously
Tested They have, indeed, been allowed TO 60 under
protection and surveillance into parts Of the
country There have been several reports Of violence
and menace attempted by the Corean officials these
without foundation. Indications Of Indifference 70
Japanese dctasion and determination 10 assert com
pete independence have, however, been frequent.
The Chinese government has lost opportunity Of en-
couraging the Coreans their resistance to japanese
demands In tbe autumn Of 1874, when the High Com
missioner Okubo engaged the settlement Of the
FOrmOsa affair in Pekn they sent false notice that
al alliance had been contracted between the United
states, France and Japan for the destruction the
peninsula kingdomi and when terrified party came
from the capital OF the threatened State asking for ex
plantations and advice, the Tsung Yamen
COCSsELLED AN IMMEDIATE COmPLIAvCR
with the requirements Of the American and European
Powers, but bold defiance in japan should at
tempt N attack Up TO this time however il is toll
erably clear that Corea has evidence that Japan
contempates attack The messengers that have
been sent thther at intervals from the Foreign Once
have been empowered TO make 10 hostile demonstra-
tOns but instructed to conhne themselves examna-
ton and inquiry In the present temper Of the For
egn Office, indeed II is not possible that any OF its
attaches should BE- allowed 70 assume offensive
stand But there is little - doubt that other
powerful departments are sufficiently favorable TO the
general scheme Of an expedition which shall certainly
be on scale large 70 make aggressive operations
easy In case they should be thought advisable II does
not appear that the vehement advocates OF this
movement were originally OF the high official
class; but they Of sucn influence aud
power that their representations can hardly be dsre
garded. UnquestOnaOly, tho government Is soreiy
divided on this harassing point How the debates will
terminate 1t is impossible " say. The force OF numbers
is IL favor Of letting the turbulent spirits have their
way and giving sanction 10 an enterprise least for
the opening II not the conquest Of CODa; the weight
intelligent judgment is The opposite direction lie
would be bold propbet even among the members Of
the Cabinet themselves, who would venture 70 fOretel
the result Of the anxious dnberaons that absorb A.
tentiOn upon Ibis subject almost 70 the present eXcu-
sion OF All others II an army should be sent 10 will b.
the distinct ground that CoTea has rendered herself
liable TO punishment for her prolonged suspension Of
the tributes and her repeated reflSals not always
coureousy conveyed TO renew the old relationship or
open the way 10 any other form Of Intercourse But il
enterprise are inspired 10y somewhat different motives,
which viii never be 50 openly proclaimed.
The unfortunate affair, Ia which Judge Richardson. Of
the Court OF Claims and Commander Lewis Of the
United states steamer Yantic put % great annoy
ance aud inconvenience and compelled 10 abandon a
pleasure Trip 10 the country upon which they had Just
started mas probably been already reported The case
u one which, however dsagreeabe &c may have been
the American gentlemen was far more vcxatous 10 the
authorities at Toxic. Messrs. Richardson and Lewis
had just started upon short journey TO various places
ot interest," an Of which lie within the limits recognized
by treaty a.
PRE- TO FOREIGN VISITATION
At their first resting place they were slammed and
compelled 70 return 70 Yokohama the alleged ground
that orders had Deen gwen 10 prevent all strangers
soOurning In that par OF the country Personally thew
treated with every mark ofderence and dera-
ton but the act itself without regard 10 the manner in