St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-19
Is GRESHAM IN A MIDDLE?
HIS ALLEGED DISPATCH TO THE JAP
AhsSE GOVERNMENT
CRITICIsING THAT COUNTRY

&c correspondence OF
the Incident.
WASHINGTON, July lS.-Much inter
est was aroused in official circles here
today by the publication of long state
ment purpOrting to contain an extract
from a dispatch sent by Secretary
Gresram to the japanese government,
saying that the United States views
with regret the levying of an unjust
war by japan upon a weak and de-
fenSelesS nation like Corea.
Immediately efforts were made to
confirm this story, for 1t was assumed
that If the secretary was correctly
quoted he mad gone to an eX,rems
length in thus addressing the Japanese
government, and that the result wnuld
be series of diplomatic complications,
as the Japanese were sure to re-
sent the s.cretary's expression as an
unwarrantable interference.
1t happened that. Secretary Gresham
was indisposed today aud kept to his
room in the Arlington, but he was in
duced 10 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 partial voluntary publication
would violate diplomatic practice. Since
the subject has attracted so much atten-
ton, however, it is almost certain that
the senate will adopt resolution call
Ing for the correspondence, and in that
case the secretary's scruples would not
be strained in making full and COM
plete response. The other officials of
The state department, when approached
with Inquiries, either stood mute or de-
clared they were not informed upon the
matter. There is reason to believe that
when the correspondence is made pub
lie it will be found that
THE sECRErARY's LANGUAGE
has been, perhaps unintemtionally, mis-
quoted. and that the error, though ap-
parently slight. really places the secre-
tary in position substantially different
from that assumed by him.
The history of the incident begins
with the rebellion, at which time. upon
the application Of the king, the United
States sent the warship Baltimore to
Chemulpo. Almost simultaneously the
Japanese and Chinese governments sent
military forces to aid the king in his eff
forts to stamp out the rebellion. They
were successful, and when quiet was re-
stored Corean protfered her thanks
and suggested a withdrawal of the for
eign forces. This was not so 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 country. However, the Chinese
were willing to withdraw if the Japanese
would do likewise, but the latter dis
covered that she had nun Der of
grievances against the Coreans on ac-
count of mal-administration and maxi
ing series of demands, some of which
touched the very existence of Corea as
all independent nation, Japan an
nuunced
THAT HER TROOPS
would not be Withdrawn until these
conditions were met.
AT this point the attention and inter-
aroused. tor IL was seen that the peace
of all Northern Asia was in jeopardy,
aud the powers that had great interests
there began to consider what should be
done to dlSSuade Japan from pursuing
a course that promised to break down
the integrity of the little nation that
had served as a buffer between the two
great Asiatic nations. Great Britain
and Russia and France interrosed with
pacific circumstances, but these were
unheeded by Japan. the government
OF which, 1t has been intimaled here,
was in such desperate way politically
that it felt obliged to excite the national
feeling as means of self-preservatiou.
Then the United States was drawn into
the matter. We have large interests in
China and Japan and prospects oil
greatly enlarging our trade relations,
and when the United States minister,
Mr.. Dunn. at Toxic, represented the
conditions to the state department it
was felt to be not only in our interest,
but for the good of all concerned to
reinforce the efforts Of the great Euro
pean powers to prevent conflict that
would surely be disastrous to both
sides.
Such course. according to defender
OF the administration, has been taken
before by the United States notably in
the case of the small republics of
Central America; we have succeeded in
preventing wars, and in so doing have
earned the gratitude and thanks of our
neighbors and the esteem and admir-
alton of the whole world.
AT THE CoREAN LEGATION
today, copy OF dispatch alleged to
have Geen sent was shown TO the minis
ia fal IN
TO the department Of state for inform.
alton and intimated that he could not,
with propriety, talk of the matter. He
said that no record of the dispatches
has been received frou. Corea.
A copy of the paper containing the
dispatch was shown to the japanese
minister, who very promptly returned
reply that he knew nothing at all of
such message and had no official in
timation that it had been sent. He
said:
THE japanese government is perfect
ly satisfied with the attitude OF the adj
ministration regarding Corea. and is
confident that it is actuated bv senti-
ments of justice towards both China
and Japan, and is only DESTROYS of a
pacific solution of the differences be-
tween the countries"
affairs said that all exprt sslon of the
dissatisfaction felt by this government
in the manner indicated would not affect
the future action Of the Japanese gov
eminent.
One effect, however, might be that
should it be concluded to submit the,
differences now existing between the
two nations 10 arbitration, the I'm ted
States might not be asked TO serve. as
probably would have been the case
otherwise.
No news on the matter could be had
from members of the Chinese legation.
Members of the house committee on
foreign affairs deny the feature of the
story which says they have seen the
Gresham dispatch. Chairman Met reary.
Representative Hit and Representa-
tive Traynor said they had seen no such
dispatch, and know of no action in that
line, and Senator Gray and other MEM
Ders of tire senate foreign relations com
NIT NIL a l..