Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-18
It Creates q Sensation in Official and
- Rplematic Circles.
AGAINST JAPANS WAR on COREh
Condition Of Affairs as Explained at
the Department.
ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE

THE United States view with regret the
levying Of an unjust war by Japan upon
weak and defenseiess nation like Corea"
These are the closing words Of a message
that Secretary Gresham is alleged to have
written to the United States minister to
Japan. Their publication has caused a cen-
sation in official circles. especially among
the few representatives Of foreign coun tries
now In the city, nearly as great as that
which followed the announcement of the
vi patriotic policy Of this administration IN
the Hawaiian affair. Secretary Gresham is
not very we'll today. and did not put in an
appearance at the State Department. It
was there said that he was resting a. the
Arlington Hotel. and that he did not care
to be Interrupted by visitors today. There
was no one at the State Department who
was able to speak with authority In re-
gard to the reported policy Of the govern
ment in the matter Of the dispute between
Japan and Corea. D.
True in Substance at Least.
There are excellent reasons for the be-
lief. however, that the message credited to
Secretary Gresham as above quoted is true
in substance II not literally true In words.
No secret is made of the fact that the ad
ministration Is dissatisfied with the present
state of affairs in Corea and that our diplo-
ma tic represen tativeS in the east have been
instructed to use their good Offices" to
avert trouble between Japan and that coun-
try. What is not so certain, however. Is the
extent to which these good offices" are
to be exerted. 1t Is also admitted that the
administration feels that Japan Is not JUS
titled In keeping armed troops In Corean
territory in open menace to the authorities
Of that country, Notwithstanding it's Oft
repeated protestation that 1t has no inten-
ton or desire to levy war on Corea.
What Japan Says.
Japan has informed the United States. as
well as Great Britain and Russia. that 1t
has no serious quarrel with Corea. She has
sent troops there because her citizens have
larger commercial interests in the country
than any other foreigners, and these in
terests are endangered by the frequent in
surrections due to bad government. She
has distinctly declared that she has no in
tention of seizing the country. She has
asked China to help her establish good gov
ernment, and China has refused to inter-
fere. and expires sed displeasure at the pres
ence Of Japanese troops.
Regarded With Distrust.
These professions are regarded with dis
trust, SO 1t is said. by China. Russia, Great
Britain and the United States. Those coun,
tries. 1t is understood, hold that the present
peaceful state of affairs in Corea does not
that country. and also that the demands
made by Japan for certain radical changes
in the administration Of government affairs
In Corea lend color to the expressed belief
that she is trying to provoke the Corean
authorities into a quarrel that would justi-
fy seizure of the country.
All That the United States Has Done,
According to the same source all that the
United States has done in the matter is to
join with Russia and Great Britain in n
friendly effort to avert trouble between the
two countries. 1t is denied that the Secre-
tary Of State has ever had any negotiations
with the Chinese minister at this capital on
this subject. The charge is made in certain
quarters that the message alleged % have
been sent to Japan by Secretary Gresham
was given to the press of this country with
view to prejudicing the American people
against the administration.
Some Criticism.
Those who incline to criticlse the action
of Secretary Gresham in this affair say
that Secretary Gresham probably has little
personal knowledge of the controversy. Ac-
cording to international law and diplomatic
customs he is not called upon to pass .judg-
ment upon the foreign policy of another ma
tion at any time, and even with all the
facts before him it would be regarded as an
extraordinary breach of etiquette for him to
undertake to determine whether the action
Oh Japan mas Dec1 or is just or UNJUST unless
the contention between the two governments
was submitted to him for arbitra ton, They
say that the United States can tender their
good offices for the settlement of a differ
ence between nations and have done so
many times, but there is no record or recol-
lection of previous instance where the
United States officially declared. their tJ1yfr-
ion of the merits of a controversy without
official knowledge of what it was about
Co-respOndence Still Going On.
send word that he could not. at this time
say anything either in denial or affirmation
of the publication, as the correspondence is
still in progress. and to make a partial vol
untary publication would violate diplomatic
practice. Since the subject has attracted
so much attention, however, 1t Is almost
certain that the Senate will adopt rcsolu-
tion calling for the correspondence and in
that case, the Secretarys sc-uples would
not be strained in making full and COM
plete response.