The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-05
ONLY FOR KOREk'S GOOD
Japan's Position Is One of Al
truiStiC BeneyoIenCe.
THAT Is WHAT SHE SAYS
Her Sole Desire Is, According to
JAPANESE Sources, That the Coun-
try May Be Independent and Incl
dentaily the Mikado Enjoy Its Trade
and Benefits.

The telegram from the japanese govern
| ment to its minister, at Washington, an
! nouncing authpritatively the policy OF
Japan in Korea which was published by
| The TIMES Sunday, has created much in
terest in diplomatic circles.
| The Japanese minister said very frankly
last night that this announcement of Japan
| attitude toward Korea could only be con-
strued in one way, namely, as an indication
OF the earnest desire of the japanese gov
| ernmcnt to remove all possible cause Tor
misapprehension upon the subject.
| Recent events in Korea" he continued,
| have unfortunately given rise To the H.
preston in some quarters that Japan Is
seeking to exercise exclusive control over
that country, in other words, tn establish
a protecturate. Nothing" Mr.. Kurino de-
clared, could be further from the truth
| than this suppostiun. III dealing with
| Korea Japan has but one object, the eS-
| adjustment and maintenance OF the indt-
pendence of the Korean kingdom"
| 3 GOOD
ACTUATED BY BENEy OLENCE.
'In noIding iBts purpose the japanese
| government not acIuated by any " ish 10
| control Korea, or 10y any motive olher tni.1i
| That OF purely aIiruIstic benevolence. her
ow II interests demanded that Korea shall Ge
| independent, ana that the Korean govern
menJ snail lie slrong enough 10 MAINTAIN
order within The Kingdom ana 10 plottCt
foreigners residing there. Eighty Per cent
OF Koreas trace is with Spain; the reg
ular lines or communication Detw cen Korea
and other countries are entirely under
Japanese control, while large numbers OF
Japanese reside in Korea Tor PURPOSES OF
business.
Through the " ca k and vascillating policy
OF the Korean government, largely due
formerly TO the mischievous influence
eNerted by Chinese agents, all OF these
interests v ere constantly endangered. In
ternal disorder became the rule rather than
the exception in Korea, and at every fresh
outbreak 1t as Japan and her subjects
that suffered most. 1t can be seen IRON
this that Japan had strong motive, en-
tirely different from anything Ike an an
bilious design TO control tie Political ots-
TIMES OF Korea, in assuming and main
tanning the aitituces she occupies"
KOREA STILL CHAOTIC.
Korean affairs are still unhappily in a
most chaotic condition, and tie best meant
efforts to improve the affairs OF the gov
ernulent and thepeopl care beset byobsta cles
which seem well nigh insurmountahle.
Consequently there has been some mlsun-
Outstanding in Europe and America con-
corning the real situation in Korea anu
the true designs of Japan.
All such doubt should be removed, Mr..
Kurino thinks, 10y the declaration of policy
contained in the telegram from his govern
ment, which is clear and succinct and at
the same time a very frank statement
OF its true designs. TIE presence OF a
large force OF Japa Dese troops i'll Korea
has, doubtless, been one reason why the
Impression has gained ground that the
japanese government desires to esta blish
a protectoratc there.
The truth regarding that point is now
made clear by the declaration OF the
japanese government that the japanese
troops are stationed in Korea to maintain
the indispensable lines of communication
through Korea with the Liau Tung PENN
sula, now i'll the Possession of Japan, and
to insure tranquility and protect the le-
CATION, consuIates, and japanese subjects.
The troops employed in protecting the
lines OF communication with the Liau
Tung Peninsula comprise the larger por-
ton of this force. The necessity for
their presence in Korea will disappear
when Japan evacuates Port Arthur, and
they will then be withdra wn.
TEMPORARY OCCUPATION.
This does not mean, Mr.. kurino added,
that all OF Japan's troops Will be with
drawn from Korea when Port Arthur is
evacuated, for the retention Of a suitable
force VIII probably stlll ne necessary LOT
the protection of Japanese subjects and
the legation and cunsulates- But the
maiHtenan &c of even such force is
clearly regarded as temporary, rs is shown
ny the statement that the Japanese govern
ment hopes that the work OF reform having
been set in motion will progress, and that
consequently Korea will shortly be able TO
maintain order and protect foreigners, in
which event the troops still retained for
those purposes will be recalled.
These declarations should serve to eff
fectuaIly set at rest the rumors regarding
Japan's designs upon Korea. which have
already gained some degree of credence,
and which. if uncoBtrsdicted. are calcu-
lated to work most injurious and mis-
chievous consequences. The attitude Of
Japan has been consistent from the begin
ming. At the outset she declared that her
sole object was the maintenance of Korean
independence
Now the declaration is made, in the most
authoritative manner, that her government
has no designs upon Korea and no wish to
proloug the stay OF troops there. bat that
on the contrary the Japanese government
will be highly gratified on many grounds
when relieved of all responsibility in that
direction.