The herald., 1895-11-05
Is the Only Object Sought by
Japan
THE STATEMENT OF POLICY
Is Officially Communicated to Secretary
Olney
The japanese Minister Takes q Frank
Statement of the Designs OF His Gov.
eminent Regarding Corea

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-Regarding
the official statement from the. Japanese
government as to the position of Japan
towards Corea which has been commu
nicated to Secretary Olney by the Japan
csc minister, Mr.. Kurino, it is authorita-
lively explained that after the evacua-
ton of the Liao Tung peninsula some
Japanese troops will be left in Corea to
protect the japanese and maintain or
der. The Telegram created a great deal
OF interest in diplomatic circles. The
japanese minister, when approached up
on the subisct, said very frankly that this
ment toward Corea could only only he
construed IN one way, namely as an in
dicatiOn OF the earnest desire Of the Jap
anese gvernment to remove all possible
cause for misapprehension upon the sub
ject.
D. Recent, events in Corea' said Mr..
Kurino "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 protect0rate. Moth
ing could be further from the truth than
this superstition. In dealing with Corea
Japan has but one object the establish
ence OF the Corean kingdom.
In holding this purpose the japanese
government Is not actuated by any wish
TO control Corea or by any motive of
purely altruistic benevolence. Her own
interests demand thas Corea shall be in.
dependent, and that the Corean king
shall be strong enough to maintain order
within the kingdom and to protect for
oigners residing there. Eighty per cent
OF Corea's trade is with Japan; the regu.
lar lines OF communication between Corea
aud other countries are entirely under
Japanese control, willis large numbers of
Japanese reside in Corea for the purpose
OF business. Through the weak policy
OF the Corean government. largely due
formerly to the mischievous influences
exerted by Chinese agents, all of. these
interests were constantly endauge red.
internal disorder became the r. le rather
than the exception in CUrea, and at every
fresh outbreak it was japanese subjects
that suffered most. 1t can be seen from
this that Japan had str ong motive, en-.
tirely different from anything like an
ambitious Design to control the political
destInles OF Corea in assuming and main
tanning the attitude she took.
Corean affairs are still unhappily in
most chaotic condition, and the best
efforts TO improve the condition OF the
government and people are beset by OBJ
stacles which seem well nigh insur-
nountable. Consequently there has been
some Misunderstanding in Europe and
America concerning the real situation in
Corea and the true designs of Japan.
All such doubts should be removed by
the dictation OF policy contained in the
telegram from my government. which is
clear and succinct and at the same time
very frank statement of its true designs
The presence Of large force OF japanese
troops in Corea has doubtless been one
reason why the impre ssion has gained
ground that the japanese government de-
sires to establish a protectorat3 there.
Tho declaration of Japan does not
mean that all OF the Japanese troops will
be Withdrawn from Corea when Port Ar
thur is evacuated, or the retention of q
suitable force will probably be still neces-
sary for the protection OF japanese sub
lects and the legation ana consu!ates.
But the maintenance of even such 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 10 main tain order
and protect foreigners. in which event
the troops still retained for these pur-
poses will be recalled. These declarations
should serve to effeCtually set at rest the
rumors regarding Japan's designs upon
Corea, which have gained some degree of
credence and which, if contradicted, are
calculated to lead to most miscellaneous
and injurious consequences. The attitude
OF Japan has been consistent from ths
beginning. At the outset she declared
that her sole object was the maintenance
OF Corea's INDEPENDENCE