The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-10
SECRETARY GREsHAws NOTE.
The Instructions Hearing ON the War
la the East.


SAN FRANCISCO, Ca, Oct. 7.-Ad-
vices received here from Yokohama an
nounce he arrival there from the United
States of Mr.. Ye Sung 500, the C0rean
minister to Washington, who is on his
return to Corea. They a,so give some in
teraSting details Of that celebrated chap
ter in the correspondence between the
United States and Japan which eliminated
in the letter from Secretary Gresham to
United States Minister Dunn, touch
ing Japan's attitude toward Corea, which
had been the subject Of so much comment
in the United States. It will be remem-
bered that at the time Japan was in COM
pete military control of Seoul, the Corean
capital Her demands were very sweep
ing, being as follows:
A reorganizations Of the duties and
service of the revenue officers OF the
various departments; the appointment Of
a new minister in charge Of the CONNER
cial intercourse and foreign relations; the
pubic roads widened and railroads and
telegraph lines build by the government
between Seoul and other important places;
the number of government bureaus re-
duced and the salaries of officers suf-
ficiently increased so that they may live
properly; the system of records Of receipts
and disbursements of the government
changed and a way OF increasing the pub
lie revenues determined upon; the none
tary system changed; new rules and regu-
lations for the management of the custom
houses; the farming lands Of all the
provinces resurveyed and numbered for
purposes Of taxation in order that the
amount needed for pubic improvements
may be raised.
The administration Of justice changed;
mill rfi al ~ zx-e-
TEN of the army and navy abolished and
reorganized on a modern basis; the police
system thoroughly reorganized and sta
tons established in Seoul and other I'M
portant places: the school system reor-
ganiZed.
To these demands Corea replied that
she was. and for many years had been,
instituting such changes in the govern
mental system as the pubic revenues
would support, and that, while they
realized the superior military power Of
Japan. which they would not resist, they
hoped the national independence would
be respected and the japanese troops
then In possession Of the capital and the
country would be withdrawn.
At the same time the king instructed
the Corean minister a. Washington 10
represent the conditions TO the United
States to the end that the good Offices Of
the United States be used 10 bring about
the withdrawal Of the japanese troops.
He was further instructed 70 say that
the exact conditions described i'm the
treaty of 1883 with The United States had
arisen, and to beg the United States TO
carry out the obligation il had assumed
in the article reading: IF other powers
deal unJustly or oppressiveiy with either
government the other will exert their
good offices on being Informed Of the case
to bring about an amicable arrangement,
thus showing their friendly fesings"
Secretary Gresham responded 10 this
appeal by communicating with both
China and Japan in Corea's interest.
China agreed to withdraw her troops, but
Japan declined to do so. Then The secre-
tary addressed the celebrated note Of in
struction to Minister Dunn, which, after
summing up the situation and the obi
CATION OF the United States, concluded
in the following words: "Che-isning sin
cere friendship for both Japan and Corea,
the United States indulge the hope that
Corea's independence and sovereignty
will be respected. You are instructed to
say to the government at Toxic that the
president will be painfully disappointed
should Japan visit upon her feeble and
defenseless neighbor the horrors Of an
unjust war;"