Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-05
THE HERMIT KINGDOM
And Its Designs Upon Corea, as Shown
by Its Several Treaties.
MEANT FOR AN ANNEX TO SIBERIA.
Prospects Opening to the Peninsula Through
the Projects.
CHIyGs GREAT NEED OF PURE WATER

Shanghai says: Now that the position held
by Corea in the politics of the East, and the
deep interest manifested in the future Of
this peninsula by Great Britain, Russia
China and Japan is beginning to be the
principal topic of diplomatic circles in thi'
section OF the globe, it may be well to gen
erslly consider the treaties which thit
Hermit Kingdom has entered into, anG
the relative advantages which each of tfft
contending powers hopes to gain by carry
ing out its present designs upon that
country.
Various attempts have been made to oper
Corea to foreign commerce, but until 1876
all attempts had failed, and at each failure
the chances of future success seemed more
distant than at first. Until then foreigners
were forbidden to land upon Corean shores,
and any person Except a Chinese) found
within the jurisdiction of the country was
thrown into prison. Some French mission
aries who had brated the law of the country
and boldly advanced into the native cities
were horribly massacred in 1866, and 8
French expedition sent to chastise the
Coreans ascended the Seoul River and at.
tackled several forts, but lost so heavily that
the expedition sailed away without having
accomplished the end aimed at, and having
left the Corean soldiers with the impression
that the foreigner could not fight, and that
the Corean was invincible.
Destruction of the Native Forts.
But in 1873 an American squadron under
Rear Admiral Rodgers, United States
Navy, was dispatched against Corea to
avenge the burning of the schooner General
Sherman and the subsequent numbering of
the crew. and an effective lesson was taught
them. This expedition attacked the native
forts and completely destroyed them, gar
rison and all, with but little loss to the at
tacking force. Shortly after this affair a
Japanese surveying party was fired upon
by the Coreans, and Japanese feet de-
manded, as an indemnity, that certain priv
ileges in trade should be granted them. This
was the first step toward the opening of the
country to foreign intercourse.
The Corean-Japanese treaty of 1S76-the
first entered into by the Coreans-was con-
cluded on the basis of free trade, only a
small amount of tonnage dues on shipping
being payable. In a subsequent convention
in 1877 Japan was granted the privilege of
in 1879 the harbors of Gensan, and in 1888
Chemulpo, were thrown open to Japanese
commerce, all other nations being excluded
from the benefits granted tc Japan. In the
meantime, China, who has always regarded
Corea as dependency of her empire, began
to grow Jealous of the increasing influence
of Japan, and to counteract this hold of
her inveterate enemy encouraged, if not
actually instigated, foreign powers to follow
in the footsteps of Japan in concluding
treaties with this Hermit Kingdom" and
it was with her help that Admiral Shufeldt
OF our navy led the way and successfully
carried through the treaty between the
United States and Corea of 1888. Later on
Great Britain, Germany, and France sue
cessfully negotiated very similar treaties.
Defects of the American Treaty.
The American treaty, ratified by General
Lucius Foote (who became the first United
States Minister to Corea), did not specify a
detailed customs tariff it merely stated
that duties on ordinary goods should not
exceed 10 per cent, and on luxuries 80 per
cent ad valorem. There is no explanation
as to why our representative did not de-
mand (and he would have gotten) the same
privileges granted the Japanese, namely,
free trade; the only conclusion that can be
arrived at is that the Coreans were advised
not to grant it, and probably by China and
Japan. The same may be said concerning
the Corean-German and Anglo-Corean
treaties. The British and German treaties
contain a carefully elaborated customs
tariff, and, like our own, also Favored
nation clause" But what can be the use of
the finest commercial treaties imaginable if
saddled with a customs tariff in the face of
japanese free trade?
To offset this disadvantage, the nations
concerned combined to make the Coreans
change their treaty with Japan and put her
on the same level with themselves as to a
customs tariff. This was finally achieved,
and Japanese products made to pay the
same duties as those of other nations. The
concession on the part of Japan was GER
tainly of the most vital importance to
Corea, because the lions share of the
Corean trade is carried on by Japan. 1t
was, however, not gained until Corea
threatened to throw open another splen-
didlv-situated port in the vicinity of Fusan,
far superior to that station, which would
have been deathblow TO the prosperity of
that city. The south coast of Corea
abouLds in excellent harbors, and one OF
the best is in a few. hours steaming of
Fusan. Any way, the maneuvring ON the
part of the Corean-Chinese side was suffi-
cient to coerce Japan into agreeing to take
the same position as the rest of the treaty
powers, i. e., to pay the customs dues.
Corea Tied Up by Treaties.
The next treaties concluded by Corea
were based upon those entered into with
Great Britain and Germany, which two are
identical Therefore any advantage grant
ed to any other country successively con-
cluding treaties, hereafter, is ais granted
TO all other treaty powers, in virtue of the
'favored-nation" clause now inserted in all
treaties. Italy, for instance, has obtained
the privilege of importing vermouth at 10
per cent, while formerly, under the head of
liquor" the same article had to pay 20 per
cent, and Russia brought Gown the item of
seaweed from Z y per cent to 5 per cent, for
which Japan has to be thankful, most of the
seaweed being imported from Hakodate.
The latest foreign power to conclude
treaty with Corea has been France; there
fore, besiGes China and Japan, the follow
ing countries have become treaty powers in
Corea: Un;rei States, Great Britain, Rus
sia, Germany. Italy and France.
The conclusion of treaties with foreign
powers has doubtless inaugurated new era
of prosperi " and development in this pen
insular kingdom, of which glance at the
receipts from customs dues is ample suffi-
cient to satisfy the most skeptical, and the
general desire to have more ports opened to
foreign commerce is well justified. China,
however, out of pure jealousy against the
mighty rivalry of Japan, is fighting hard to
prevent the opening of several of the rich
norther provinces, whose trade she wishes
TO monopolize. Still, the potent influence
exerted by Chinese statesmen in Corean af-
fairs has not been able to counteract the en-
croachments of Russia upon the country.
Russia has her representatives continually