The record-union., 1894-07-19
Snecial to the RECoRD-UNION.

by the publication of q long statement
purporting to contain an extract from a
dispatch sent by Secretary Gresham to
the Japanese Government, saying the
United States views with regret the levy
ing of an unjust war by Japan upon a
weak and defenseless ination like Corea.
Secretary Gresham was indiSpOsed to-
day, but sent out word that he could not
at this time say anything either in denial
or affirmation of the publication. as cor
respondence is still in progress. 1t is
almost certain the Senate will adopt
resolution calling for the correspondence.
There is reason to believe the Secretary's
language has been, perhaps, unintention-
ally misquoted.
A Government official to-day made an
explanation as follows of the situation in
Corea and of the attitude and course of
this Governments:
"The history of the incident begins with
the Corean rebellion, when, upon the APP
plication of the King, the United States
sent the warship Baltimore to Chemulpo.
Almost simultaneously the Japanese and
Chinese Government sent military forces
to aid the King in his efforts TO stamp out
the rebellion. They were unsuccessful,
and when quiet was restored the Coreans
suggested a withdrawal of the foreign
forces. This was not SO easily TO be ac-
complished. The Chinese and Japanese
have always been at odds whenever Corea
was concerned. for each had long cher
ished designs upon the autonomy of the
country. However, the Chinese were
willing to withdraw If the Japanese
would do the same, but the latter country
discovered that she had number of
grievances against the CoreanS on account
of maladministration, and made serious
demands, some of which touched the
very existence OF Corea as an independ-
ent nation. Japan announced that her
troops would not be withdrawn until
these conditions were met. At this point
the attention and interest of other nations
was strongly used, and it was seen that
the peace of all Northern Asia was
in jeopardy, and the powers that had great
interests there began to consider what
should be done to dissuade Japan from
pursuing a course that promised to break
down the integrity OF the little nation
that had served as buffer between the
two Asiatic nations. Great Britain, Rus
sia and France interposed with pacific
remonstrances, but these were Gnheeded
by Japan, the present Government of
which, it is intimated here, was in such
desperate pass politically that it felt
obliged to excite the national feelings as
a means of selt-preservation. Then the
United States was drawn into the matter.
I'VE have large interests in China and
Japan, and prospects of greatly enlarging
our trade relations, and when United
States Minister Dunn at Toxic repre-
sented the conditions to the State Depart
ment it was felt not to be to our own in
terest, but for the good OF all concerned
to reinforece the efforts of the European
A.afx Il
surely be disastrous on both sides. Such
a course has been taken before by the
United States, notably in the case of the
small republics of South America. We
have succeeded In preventing wars aud
have earned the gratitude and thanks Of
our neighbors and the esteem and ad-
miration of the whole world"
AT the COrean Legation to-day a copy
of the dispatch alleged to have been sent
was shown TO the Minister, but he politely
referred the reporter to the Department of
State for information, and intimated that
he could not with propriety talk of the
matter. 1t was said that no records of
the dispatches have been received from
Corea.
A copy of the paper containing the dis
patch was shown TO the Japanese Minis
ter, who promptly returned reply that
he knew nothing at all of such message,
and had no official intimation that it had
been sent. He said: 'The Japanese
Government is perfectly satisfied with
the attitude of the Administration re-
garding Corea, and is confident it is actu-
ated by sentiments OF justice towards
both countries, and is only desirous of a
pacific solution of the difficulties between
the two countries"
A diplomat familiar with Eastern af-
fairs said that an expression of dissatis-
faction felt by this Government in the
manner indicated would not affect the
future action of the Japanese Govern
ment. One effect, however, might be
that should it be concluded to submit the
differences now existing between the two
nations TO arbitration, the United States
might not be asked to serve. as probably
she would have been otherwise.
No news on the matter could be had
from members of the Chinese Legation.
Members of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs deny that feature of the
story which says they have seen the
Gresham dispatch. Chairman McCreary
and Representatives Hit and Raynor
said they had seen no such dispatch, and
knew of no action in that line, and Sem
ator Gray and other members of the SEN
ate Foreign Relations Committee like
wise said they knew nothing of the
matter.
WHY HE WAS STOPPED.
YOKOHAMA, July 1S.-It is officially
stated that the British Consul at Seoul,
Corea, who claims to have been assaulted
by Japanese soldiers, was stopped be-
cause he was seeking TO pass the Japanese
posts and enter the bivouac of the troops.
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
An Agreement Reached by the House
and Senate Conferrees.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-An agreement
has been reached on the naval ap-
bill by the conferrees and was
finally agreed to by the Senate.
The allowance for ordnance stands as
the Senate reduced it, from $3.50, 900 to
500. 900. This reduction was made, how
ever, by striking out the House item of
SI50,000 for a modern battery for the
Hartford.
The House had also put in an appropri-
alton of 100000 for new machinery for
the Hartford. but the Senate committee
decided that she be used as training
ship, and made an appropriation of $780,
900 TO have her remodeled, which stands,
as does the Senate appropriation of $4,000
for repairs to the old Constitution at the
Portsmouth Navy Yard, so that she may
be used as a training ship for the nava.
militia.
The Senate conferrees receded from the
amendments to pay the Bath Iron Works
for speed premiums on the Machias and
Castine. S45. COO, and to pay the Samuel b.
Morse d Sons Company $4,000 as speed