The morning call., 1894-07-19
NOTHING TO SAY.
Once More Gresham Has
Blundered.
TOO FRIENDLY TO CHINA.
He Was Let Into the COrean
Matter.
FOLLOWS GREAT BRITAIN's LEAD
1t Was the Same Old Error Growing
Out of the Same Old
Causes.

United States views with regret the levy
ing OF an unjust war by Japan upon a
weak and Gefen seieSs nation like COrea.
Secretary Gresham was indlspOsed 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 a
resolution calling for the CORRESPONDENCE.
There is reason to believe that the Secre-
tary's language has been, perhaps, unln-
tentionally misquOted.
The history OF the incident begins with
the Corean rebellion, when, upon the ap-
pIication of the King, the United States
sent the warShip Baltimore to Chemulp0.
Almost simultaneously the japanese and
Chinese Governments sent military forces
to aid the King in his efforts to stamp out
the rebellion. They were successful. and
when quiet was restored the Coreans sug-
gested a withdrawal of the foreign forces.
This was not so easily to be accom-
plshed. and a Government official made
an explanation substantially as follows
of the situation in COrea and the
attitude and course of the Govern
ment. The Chinese and Japanese have
always been at ODDS whenever Corea was
concerned. for each had long cherished
designs upon the autonomy Of the cOun-
try. However, the Chinese were willing
to withdraw if the japanese would do the
same, but the latter country discovered
that she had a number of grievances
against the COreans on account of NAL
administration and made a series OF de-
mands. some OF which touched the very
existence Of COrea as an independent
nation. Japan announced that her troops
would not be withdrawn until these con-
ditiOnS were met.
At this point the attention and interest
of other nations was strongly drawn 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 ma
ton that had served as a buffer between
the two Asatic nations. Great Britain,
Russia and France interposed with pacific
circumstances, but these were UNDECIDED
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 self-preservation.
Then the United States was drawn into
the matter. We have large interests in
China and Japan and prospects of greatly
enlarging our trade relations, and when
United States Minister Dunn at Toxic
represented the conditions to the State
Department it was felt to be not only to
our own interest but for the good of all
concerned to re-entorce the efforts of the
great European powers to prevent con-
tlict that would surely be disastrous on
both sides.
Such a course has been taken be-
fore by the United States. Notably in the
case of the small republics of South Amer
lea, where we have succeeded in prevent
ing wars, and in so doing have earned the
gratitude and the thanks Of our neighbors
and the esteem and admiration of the
whole world.
At the Corean legation to-day copy of
the dispatch alleged to have been sent was
shown 10 the Minister, but he politely re-
ferred 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 had 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 a message
and had no official intimation that 1t had
been sent. He said: The Japanese Gov
eminent is perfectly satisfied with the at
titude of the administration regarding
Corea, and is confident that it is actuated
by sentiments Of jus;ic toward both
China and Japan. and is only DESTROYS of a
pacific solution Of the differences between
the two countries"
A diplomat familiar with Eastern affairs
said that an expression Of the dissatisfac-
ton felt by this Government in the man
ner indicated would not affect the future
action of the japanese Government. One
effect, however, might be that should it be
concluded to submit the differences now
existing between the two nations TO arb-
traitor. 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,
and mem bers of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs deny that feature of the
story which says they have seen the Ores
ham dispatch. Chairman McCreary and
Representatives Rift and Raynor said they
had seen no such dispatch. aud knew of
no action in that line, and Gray and other
members Of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee likewise said they knew moth
ing of the matter.