The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-19
THE COREAN |MbR0GL|0
Secretary Gresham's Affront
to Japan.
Correspondence in the Matter
in Progress.
Gresham Refuses to Make q Public
Statement.
A History OF tho Trouble in Cersa by q
Government Of1oiai--Hs Cites
Preosdents fer Ameri-
can Intsrfercnoss

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, July 18.-Much interest
wac aroused in official circles here today
by the publication of long statement
purporting to contain an extract from q
diepatch sont by Secretary Gresham to
the Japanese government saying the
United States views with regret the
levying Of an unjust war by japan upon
a weak and defenseless nation like Corea.
Secretary Gresham was indisposed to.
day, but sent out word that he could not
at this time say any thing either in denial
or Affirmation OF tho publication, as cor
respondence WAS still in progress. 1t il
almost certain the senate will adopt
resolution calling for the correspondence.
There is reason to believe the secretary
has been, perhaps unintentionally, mis.
quoted.
A government official made an ex-
PLANTATION substantially az follows of the
situation In Corea and of the attitude
and course of this government:
The history OF the incident begins with
the Corean rebellion, when upon the
application of the king the United States
sent the warship Baltimore the Chemul-
pc. Almost simultaneously the Japan
csc and Chinese governments sent mill
tary forces to aid the king in his efforts
to stamp out the rebellion. They were
unsuccessful, and when quiet was re-
stored the Coreans suggested a with
drawal OF the foreign forces. This was
not 80 easily to be accomplished. The
Chinese and Japanese have always been
at odds whenever Corea WAS concerned,
for each had long cherished designs upon
the autonomy of the country. However,
the Chinese were willing to withdraw ii
the Japanese would do the same, but
the latter country discovered that she
had number OF grievances against the
Corean5 on account of maladminlstra-
ton, and making a series of demands,
cacecunf oufsa'As' an -fndepkddsnE ar,i15h,,
japan announced that her troops would
not be withdrawn until these conditions
were met.
At this point the attention and inter
eat OF other nations was strongly used.
and 1t WAS seen that the peace of all
Northern Asia was in jeopardy, and the
countries that have interests there be-
gan to consider what should be done to
disauade Japan from pursuing a course
that promised to break down the intsg-
rity OF the little nation that had served
"a buffer between the two Asiatic ma
tlons. Great Britain, Russia and Francs
interposed with pacific circumstances,
but these were unhesded by Japan. The
present government, 1t 10 intimated
mere, was in such desperate pass polit-
ically that it felt obliged to excite ma
tional feelings as a means of self.preser-
vation. Then the United States was
drawn into the matter. We have large
interests in China and Japan, and pros
poets oil greatly enlarging our trade re-
iatlons, and when United States Minis
ter Dunn at Toxic reported the condi-
tiona to the state department it was felt
to be not only to our own interests but
for the good OF all concerned to reinforce
the Efforts of the great European powers
to prevent conflict that would surely
prove disastrous on both sides.
Such q course has been taken before
by the United Substantially in the
case of the small republics of South
America, where We have succeeded in
preventing wars, and in 80 doing have
earned the gratitude ana the thanks of
our neighbors and the esteem and ad-
miration of the whole world.
at the Corean legation today COPY
OF the dispatch alleged to have been
sent WAS shown to the minister, but he
politely referred the reporter to the de-
partment OF state for information and |
lntimated that he could not with pro.
priety talk OF the matter. 1t was said
that no records of the dispatches have |
been received from Corea.
copy OF the paper containing the
dispatch WAS shown to the Japanese
minister, who promptly returned a 70.
ply That he knew nothing at all of such
message, and had no Official intima-
ton that 1t had been sent. He said:
The Japanese government ia perfect
~ satisfied with the attitude OF the ad- |,
minietration regarding Corea, and is
confident that it is actuatsd by eenti-
ments OF lustice toward both China and
)aran, and is only dssirous of a pacific |,
solution of the differences between the
TWO countries"
diplomat familiar with eastern
affairs said that an expression of the
dissatisfaction felt by this government
n the manner indicated would not affect
he future action of the Japanese govern
nsnt. One effect, however, might be
nat should it be concluded to submit
ne differences now existing between
ne two nations to arbitration, the
United States might not be asked to
arVe, AS probably she would have been
otherwise.
NO news on the matter could be had
rom members of the Chinese legation.
Members of the house committee on
orelgn affairs wero shown that feature
II tho story which says they have seen
he Gresham dispatch.
Chairman McCreary and Representa-
ives Hit and Rayner said they had
cen 70 such dispatch and knew of no
ctlon in that line, and Senator GRAY
nd other members of the senate foreign
elations committee likewise said they
new nothing of the matter.
-.