New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-19
NEW-YORK THURSDAY JULY 10, Is9l-TWELVE PAGES.
GRESHAM AS A BLUNDERER.
HE THINKS IT NECESSARY TO NEEDLE
IN THE COREAN TROUBLE.
IN DOING so HE NOT ONLY REvERsEs HIMSELF
All, VIOLATES EVERY PRINCIPLE OF AMERI-
CAN DIPLOMACY But GETS ON THE
WRONG sIDE-A GRATUITOUs AZ
FRONT TO JAPAN.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.i

FRONT TO JAPAN.
IBr TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUSEI
Washington July 1S.-Secretary Gresham's re-
cent diplomatic exploits have fairly established
the assumption that he can take step In the
conduct Of ths countrys relations with foreign
Governments without hopelessly putting his
foot in IT," No great surprise was occasioned,
therefore, to-day when the report was started
that the Secretary IN his rather unaccountabe
zeal 10 pose as a mediator OF the difficulties ex-
listing In Corea between the Corcans themselves
and the japanese and Chinese Governments. had
been betrayed into Offering an unwarrantable
diplomatic affront to the Japanese authorities
The main charge, made with great circum-
stantia, detail that Mr. Gresham had. In a dis
patch 10 the American Minister at Toxic. grossly
outraged diplomatic etiquette by pronouncng
unjust" the policy adopted In Corea by the
Japanese Government. IL not denied by the oil,-
clals at the state Department, nor has any at
tempt been made 10 disprove the assertion that
tn. Secretary In message 10 the japanese
Court. has nagrantly violated the amenities OF
foreign Intercourse and seriously impaired the
friendly relations between Japan and the United
states. cemcntei by many years Of cordial
amity The obnoxious sentence of Secretary
Gresham's dispatch is given as follows
The rni,el Siaies view with regre, he ieyyins
~ unjus, war by Japan upon "A weak and de-
fence"ss nation like CoreA
So far no successful denial has been put forth
70 cover this patent blunder OF denouncing the
attitude Of one nation toward another. and
whether the facts may show hereafter that
Japan has or has not levied war which was
unjust" against Corea there IS not likely 10 be
found any substantial excuse for Mr.. Grcsha M =
oT-hnnd and highly offensive characterization
u the diplomatic policy ~ friendly nation.
The trouble in Cprcl seems. t. an unbiased
view. 10 arise chiefly from the conflicting inter
ests In that country ~ Japan and China. The
unsettled state of affairs recently IN Corea has
led to the landing ~ Japanese troops to protect
japanese commercial interests. Tho Chinese Cow
crnment seems II have taken great umbrage at
this apparent military occupation. and. after
having first planned - maintain iis own IN
nuence and protect It's own subjects In Corea by
means of military force. IL has none the less ell
tered vigorous protest against the presence Of
japanese troops
The idea ~ the Administrator. X is explained
by Secretary GrcshnIn's apologsts. has been to
play the part ~ q pacifcator IN Cprcl. BY these
npolog gists Il is SAID that tho Administration is
highly dissatisfied with tho present state ~ az
fairs IN Corca auI tha, the diploma;c representa-
rves Z the United states IN the East have been
instructed - use their good offices" - avert
| trouble between japan ana Corea. What IS not
- certain however. is the oxtont = which these
good Offices are - le eXcr,cd. II is also ad-
| mlticd that the Administration has felt that
/ Japan Is not justified IN Keeping armed troops
In Corcan territory In open menace - the au-
ihoriiies ~ that country. n1tw!'hstanding is Oft
repeated protestation that u has no intention or
desire q levy war on Corca. /, was this over
z,al,us feeling. no doubt. on ID" part ~ the
President AMI hts Secretary which betrayed Mr
Gresham into Its reported unfortunate criticism
= thc moral quality ~ ihc japanese Govern
ment's diplomats programme.
MIR Grcsharn's volcn' explosion Z partisan
ship while in the act ~ Offering his services
as q mediator between Japan and C0tea is at
/ irbufed by hts critics Aecr % a marked dsposi-
/ ton On his pari t. favor the pf-teusons u
/ China % paramount influence In Ca:cn. That his
/ offer Il mediation must rov appear both worth
+ less and ridiculous goes without saying. and
/ there are those wh) will probably urge that It
was made without either due consideration OF
| ANYTHING Ike a full knowlclge of the Coreau
| situation II is stated. in fact that Japan has
Informed the United S'a.es well as Great
/ Britain ana Russia. that It's Government has =.
| serious quarrel with Corea II has sent troops
! there because lis citizens have larger COM
n.crcial interests IN the country than any other
! foreigners and these interests aye endan-
| gercl by the frequent Instructions due u
! bad government. Japan has further. DIS
rinctly declared that she has ID intention Of
selling the country. she has asked China Il
help her establish good government. and CHINA
! has refused 10 interfere and expressed marked
aisplcasure at the presence Of Japhnes" troops.
How IN the light Of such statement or the
/ JAPANESE policy Secretary Gresham has been aD.'
10 reach the reported conclusion that japan is
/ levylng an unjust war on Corea requires 4
mucn more ingenious explanation than any which
has yet been vouchsafeI At the state Depart
ment The only information which the Secretary
seems wiling To- give at present about his latest
exhibition OF CulXotic diplomacy II 20 the 'u'c
! that the cnrrcspondcncc h- has had win lH'
Japanese and other Governments GA the '"rs1'
question IS SIN incomplete ana cannot th'Ici"''
| be furnished FOR puplic tuon. lhlS ahn""'''
mcnt Is entirely In keeping WIN thr iur'.E' H''
u.cndacious policy pursued IN dealing with IN" res
tcrailon pr, ,jcc In Hawaii ana ~ course crea 'r'
no surprise II Is likely, however, mat me H'h
ate may again step in to enforce pupHVlN' an
by a resolution of inquiry draw from the sccre
tive head Of the STATE Department tir ''',"',int '
rion which Is to cnighten the country on this
| latest phase Of the Administrations plun"'''"r
| foreign programme. 49,,
An American ex-dlplomat. thoroughly con
ycrsant with Corean affairs. rdiculed the as as
surnDd Indignation Of the Secretary ol S'd' p9
saying this afternoon: ,., ,.ber,
Air Gresham seems unable TO understand Mn'r.
Interference in IN, affairs OF foreign Novctnmeii'
hngins and where IL ends. silly and srnseb'Ss a.
his policy IN Hawaii has been, grossly hesie' (, . vt
ana unpat atriotic as 1t threatens To become IN "a
moa this newly announced programme OF u'pIorii
acv In Corea bids fair to Outstrp both IN tlr mo-
| inil.uation with which II Is trump"tcd forth'
| The sentimental Popust whom Mr, 'iI,Ve'ai,. an
is permitting direct for the tim. being thr i"i
.,rn m r"atiors OF the United States talks gllbly
| about n strong Nation making an unjust w. a.
| unon n weaker one when II H. not so many moh'isi
| .oro that he stood ready To put the military hiiu
| moral machinery OF this country III motion -
| obl. Government the Hawaiian Islands hhd eNri
had And II he did not put those torcrs mo ii ni
| zion II was not due TO his unwn1nghess 10 any
himself openly to corrupt ana RIDICULOUS n,om ~
| nrchv totterlng under the accumulated ""lEht Va
| nearly a century OF misrule and abuse or poW'r
| but because by a miscarriage OF MS hn'N lMiI' M
| nlnns the whole bubble burst prcmatuf'iy an
| the stencil and disgrace Of the thing tWokS ,n'
i -. 70 IL