, 1894-10-10

Onlheso MINISTER at the MlKadOS Court, 1t
must be obvious that tile Korean Government
was in no way responsible for it. No doubt
AN evasive answer. which the Japanese may,
If it suits them, interpret into an q DURATION
OF the tributary relation to China.
The second diplomatic attack WINS deliver
ed on July 3, in IA courteously .ryorded note,
wherein Mr.. Otori, deploring the disorders
of u country so close to her own shores
and in which japan had always felt
81 deep on interest, submitted a scheme
Of reform under he following five general
heads -
l.. The civil Government in the capital and
the provinces to be thoroughly reformed ana
the departments arranged on a new basis
under proper sponsible heads.
.. Vhe resources Of the country to be
developed, mines opened, railways construct
q. &C..
reformed.
4. The military establishments to be re-
organized under competent Instructors, so as to
render the country secure alike from internal
disorder and externa attack.
8. Education to be thoroughly reformed
on modern lines.
These, Mr.. Oto1i explained, were the rough
outlines, details being reserved for the con
sideration of a Commission which the King
must forthwith appoint to consult with Mr..
Otori on the subject.
To this demand the King postponed his
reply as long as possible, while the japanese
Secretary repaired daily to the Foreign
Office, refusing to leave without an answer.
At len,5 t the koreanS, being helpless, gave
way SO far as to nominate three officials to
meet Mr.. Otori and hear what he had to pro-
pose, but without authority to conclude any.
thing. The King hoped by this half mea-
sure to delay matters \ little. But Mr..
Otoli sent q peremptory and indignant ines.
sage to the Foreign Office to the effect that
the men appointed must have full authority
not only to consult, but to give effect TO the
decisions which he and they might arrive at,
which message, under The impressive form Of
an ultimatum, broke down the feeble re-
%sistance Of the Koreans. The Commission,
in fact, met the japanese Minister on July
10 for the despatch d business, and probably
no Royal Commission was ever SO expedi-
tiously launched on its duties.
Mr.. OtoIi now un folded the first expansion
of his plan in % proposals, which luoked
nothing in the way of thoroughness. The
Queen and her rarty were covortly attacked,
yet SO skilfully that il was difficult to see the
point Of the knife. 'Personages Of. too great
influence were to be removed; the Foreign
Customs Estabishment-the only orderly
thing III the country, by the way-was Special
ly marked for abolition; all foreign advis Jrs
were 10 be dispensed with. The Development
of the resources of the country was explained
to include not only railways and telegraphs,
but n mint, of which Korea had already had two
foisted on her by forti gners in collision with
corrupt native officials. The legal and iudici-
airy reform proved to be very radical indeed
education was to m at primary
schools and eliminate in Universities, with
provisions for sending pupils abroad.
Not having tie text before me, ! will not
quote further from this elaborate scheme, Of
which all that it is essential at this stage to OBJ
serve is that, since the Koreans themselves
can never accomplish even oSmlal1 part Of the
task assigned to them by Japan, and since
the implied intention Of that country 10 to re-
tain possession of Korea until the programme
has been completed, the only logical outcome
of the scheme is the. indefinitely prolonged
occupation Of Korea by the Japanese.
These details deserve to be recorded, butt
must be confessed t hat they do not throw
much light on the real motive and purpose
of the expeditions The most obvious expla-
nation available to. the npublic is the state Of
feeling in Japan itself which calls for ali ex.
ternal counterirritant Though valid as far
as it goes, such a motive alone is insufficient;