The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-05

the official statement from the Japa-
nese government as ITO the position of
Japan toward Corea, which has been
communicated to Secretary Olney by
the Japanese minister there, Mr.. Ku-
rino, it is authoritatively explained that
after the evacuation of the Lao Tung
peninsula, some Japanese troops will be
left in Corea to protect the Japanese
and maintain order. The telegram Gre
ated a great deal of interest in diplo-
matte circles. The japanese minister,
when approached upon the subject,
said very frankly that this announce
rea could only be construed in one
way, namely, as an indication of the
earnest desire of the japanese govern
ment to remove all possible cause for
misrepresentation upon the subject.
Recent events in Corea," said Mr..
Rurino, have unfortunately given rise
to the impression in some quarters that
Japan is seeking to exercise exclusive
control over that country, in other
words, to establish a protectora'te.
Nothing could be further from the
truth than this supposition. In dealing
with Corea, Japan has but one object,
the establishment and maintenance of
the independence of the Corean king
dom.
Japan's Political Interests.
In holding this purpose. the Japa-
nese government is not actuated by
any wish to control Corea, or by any
motive of purely althuistic benevoence
Her own interests demand that Corea
shall be Independent, and that the Co
rean king shall be strong enough to
maintain order within the kingdom and
to protect foreigners residing there.
Eighty per cent of Corea's trade is With
Japan, the regular lines of COMMUNE
cation between Corea and other coun-
tries ave entirely under japanese con-
troll while large numbers of Japanese
reside in Corea for the purpose of bust
ness. Through the weak policy OF the
Corean government, largely due tor
merly to the mischievous influences eX-
erted by Chinese agents, all of these
interests were constantly endangered.
Internal disorder became the rule
rather than the exception in Corea, anu
at every fresh outbreak 1t was 1apa-
nese subjects that suffered most 1t
can be seen from this that Japan had
strong motive, entirely different from
ANYTHING like an ambitious design to
control the political designs OF Corea
in assuming and maintaining the attl-
tude she took.
.tCorean affairs are still unhapplly IN
a most chaotic condition and the pest
meant efforts to improve the condltlon
of the government and the people are
beset by obstacles which seem well
night ins,1rmountable Consequently
there has been some misunderstanding
in Europe and America concerning the
real situation in Corea and the true
designs of japan.
To Remove Doubts.
"All such doubts should be removed
by the declaration of the policy con-
tanned in the telegram from my gov
eminent, which is a clear and succinct
and at the same time a very frank
statement of its true designs. The
presence of a large force of Japanese
troops in Corea has doubtless been one
reason why the impression has gained
ground that the Japanese government
desires to establish a protectorate
there
"The declaration of Japan does not
mean that all of the japanese troops
wifi be withdrawn from Corea when
Port Arthur is evacuated, for the re-
tention of a suitable force will prob
ably be necessary for the protection
of Japanese subjects and the legation
consulates. But the maintenance of
even such a force of men is clearly
regarded as temporary, as is shown
by the statement that the japanese
government hopes that the work of
reform, having been set in motion,
will progress and that consequently
Corea will shortly be able to maintain
order and protect foreigners, in which
event the troops still retained for
these purposes will be recalled. These
declarations should serve to effectual-
ly set at rest the rumors regarding
Japan's designs upon Corea, which
have obtained some degree of credence
and which are calculated to lead to
most mischievous and injurious con-
sequences. The attitude of Japan has
been consistent from the beginning
At the outset she declared that her
sole object was the maintenance Of
Corean independence"