New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
LONGING FOR COHEA.
HOPES AND FEARS OF RUSSIA AND ENd-
LAND RESPECTING THE LITTLE
KINGDOM.
Seoul, Corea, Nay IL.

BY far the most eAcltlhS 'oPlo III wv P
| affairs of the Far East Is the Iu'uIe S'",us
of the Kingdom of Corea Before 'iiS I'M
portant question even the Central Asian policy
of Russia and her designs upon uc br'lsh
| India Empire sink almost INTO lhslghhi-
canoe Corca', prominent geographical position
| has probablv most to do in connection Win the
| undue prominence into which this Kingdom has
| been thrown during recent years IL mas Ior
| centuries been regarded by the Emperor OF Ohina
as a part of his domnIons, ana ai''o"B" NEVER
| fully acknowledging the Chinese claim oil SoV-
ercignty the Corcans have for ages cohtihueu 10
nav a small nominal tribute 10 the feKlh Govern
| ment. which in return has never pushed It's claim
| OF sovereignty.
| Since $50 when the United States succeeneo
in opening Corca to foreign commerce an" unuS
| naturally caused China to abandon her claim oil
sovereignty, the unexpected interest TAKEN III n'r
welfare by our own country has caused scherhlhS
nations 10 pause and think twice before vcnturns
too far with their schemes Of subluRatlon ana an
ncxation But now that the United States mas
shown by the lapsc of nine years that her interest
in Corca is only friendly and commercial, ana
! that She has no concern in the political affairs OF
| the Kingdom the rival powers have again begun
| to show growing designs OF rcsumlng HeH pans
| towards that much desired goal-of eliminating
| this peninsuaT kingdom from the "oVerhmeh'S
| of Ashland anncNing the country 10 thelr own
already large dominions The Corcan treasury
is almost bankrupt. the army is small ana poorly
armed and of navy she has none, ana with the
| growing dangers of outside aggression constantly
threatening her. it is only natural that she shouid
turn towards the United States for help ana
guidance The Corcan Cabinet mas Tor some tlme
been cndea vorng TO formulate plans pN whlch
| ,hc encroachmrnts Ct outside nations might he
| a, in viz
officials have been obtained TO conduct the foreign
affairs and develop the internal resources OF the
Kingdom and American military officers TO train
and form an army for the National defence. Much
hcncft las accrued from the laborS OF the Amrri-
can oricias and if the crisis can he stayed Oft u
few years more it, is quite possible that the
strength Of the Corcan nation may I've sufficiently
developed almost 20 prevent the now Threatened
aQGrcssions
Corca. when backed by the diplomatic and naval
representatives of the United States. boldly throw
of tho yoke Of China and declared hcr ndcprnd-
cnce and now that she hrs been enabled through
American assistance 10 enter the family OF nations
it is only 70 be expected that in her present crncr-
ccncy she should look 70 MS for additional help
in carryng her through the growing difficulties
now bcscttnr her all sides. She insists that
tie United States. having opened her ports TO the
brought her from almost total Oblivion into that
position which has hccn the direct cause ~ her
present troubles, is in duty bound 10 lend her
guiding hand and again lead her into n place Of
security and peace.
The nations causing tlc present state Of I'M
eaeiucsS in Corcan affairs are Russia. Great Britain,
China and Japan. Each seems actuatcd by the
same similar motives, and proposes unless itS
own cherished schcrnc is realized tia; it will do
everything 10 prevent the success Of the others.
The riahr Of tie Corcons and the moral side Of the
policy 10 be carrie! ont are ret in tie least con-
sidcrcd by any Of the rival collcndng nations.
Russia must have an outlet for her fleets on tie
Pacific coast Of Siberia. Nladyostock. the only
naval port Of Siberia, is blocked with ice during
the greater part Of the fall and winter Of each
year, and in the event Of war-presumably with
Great Brtan-the Russian war-hiIs would be
without a rendezvous in which 10 repair aud re-
Gt the injuries incident 10 active service. while
the cnc-y would posses ports along the Chinese
and East Indian shores and would thus have an
incSiuahle advantage Corca las long coast
line, possessing many excellent hnrborS open the
entire year. and il j. upon this account that the
representatives. Of the Gar wish Tie kingdom.
They have attempted 10 secure possession OF tie
large island Of TAu~hina, belonging 10 Japan. ~
naval port but the japanese fearing all Russian
encroochmcnt-, have refused 10 ccde IL aud now
Russia has turned her attention 10 the acquisition
Of Corca as "A last resort. The Russian political
agents have been steadily but secretly at work for
some time throughout the entire peninsula.
gradually preparing the people for the rule Of the
Gar and when everything j. in readiness the
armies Of Russia will move down from Siberia and
the fleets will appear at the coast cities and Corca
will pass from tie list Of Kingdoms of Asia and
will become a proyiucp Of he mighty Ruaeuu
Empire RuSsias objective poin. in the East just
al present is 10 obtain naval station free from
ice, where at all seasons Of the year she can send
or receive her fleets occasion may rquirc. In
trigucs the Bosphorus. in Persia. in Afghanistan
! and at Seoul all have this underlying object in
view-thc acquisition Of a port which shall
pcnsa;c for the disadvantage OF closed Black
Sea and an icc-bound Baltic. No great power
with n navy Of the dimensions and importance
TO her welfare has 50 little scope for its in
Of need Russia, ard though her designs
Corca may De morally ndefcnsbc they are per-
fccty ineligible and not to be wondered at.
Nature has closed the White Sea and Gulf OF
Bothnia during the long winter months the pc
cuiar policy Of Great Britain and the natural
distrustfuncss Of Turkey combine TO refuse
Russian war-ycsscls the right Of passage through
the Dardancllcs, and there seems no probability
OF an early removal Of these distractions. Great
| Britain again stands in the way Of the march
Russia desires to make through Turkey in Asia
and Persia 10 the ports on the Persian GIlf With
n full knowledge Of these difficulties in her path
il is not TO be wondered that Russia should direct
her schemes. with good prospect Of success to
Port Lazarcf Gensanj in Corca, harbor free from
ice the entire year, large enough fer the fleets
Of the world, easily capable Of being fortified
within comparatively easy reach OF vladivostock,
| and fbn uicif nf bich oIo
| hopes will not meet with great opposition from
,,,l1ic sfn hnr al.