The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
THE KING IN THE PLOT
With the Crown Prince He
Entered the Legation and
Issued DEGREES.
TWO MINISTERS AsSASsINATED
These Peculiar Acts of Murder and
Diplomacy to Cause Trouble
for Japan.

Tor japan.
TOXIC. JAPAN, Feb. 18.-The coup d'etat
in the Korean capital on the 11th OF Febru-
| ary was the most carefully planned and
thorough affair OF the kino that has taken
place in that peculiarly restless country
for many years. 1t is impossible TO sup
| pose that its direction was Korean.
European hands and European brains
| must have played chief part. There is
no longer any doubt that the first act of
the drama was the provincial emeute of
January. Diligently represented as a mere
| popular outbreak, due to the peoples un-
willingness to obey the Governments hair
cutting edict, the uprisings throughout the
| country are now seen to have been planned
for the purpose of drawing the troops
away from the capital, and thus leaving
the coast clear for the conspirators. So
quietly and craftily were all the prepara-
tions made that not the smallest indica-
ton of what was in progress reached the
Cabinet Ministers or the Japanese lega-
ton.
Broadly speaking, it was an anti-pro-
gressiye coup, having for Its leader Kim
Pyong-si, the head of the Conservative
party. The King was easily persuaded to
associate himself with the affair, on the
ground that full vengeance would be
wreaked on every one connected with the
murder of the Queen. The Russian Charge
d Affaires also must have been fully cog
infant of the conspiracy, and must have
promised to further it by protecting the
King.
During the night of February 10 a de-
tachment of liz Russian marines, carrying
with them a field piece, entered Seoul.
They had marched up from Chemulpo,
having landed from two Russian men-of-
war dispatched there week previously.
There was no ostensible reason for the
coming Of these soldiers. Everything, so
far as could be seen, was perfectly tranquil
IN Seoul. But within a few hours of their
arrival at the legation the conspiracy
eliminated.
The King and the Crown Prince pro-
ceeded to the Russian legation. Secure in
that asylum, now strongly guarded, his
Majesty issued proclamation declaring
that the country being perpetualiy dis
turbed by treacherous rebels, nothing re-
foreign representatives. He also directed
that seven prominent statesmen, leaders
of the Party OF Progress, be decapitated
and their heads exposed. Meanwhile,
orders had been secretly issued for the ar
rest and assassination of the Minister
President, the Minister of Agriculture, the
Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister
of War;
The first two suspecting nothing were
seized without difficulty and decapitated
Immediately in front of the police head
quarters, " hence their bodies were dragged
through the streets and finally burned out
side the city. The Minister of Home
Affairs and the Minister of War seem to
have effected their escape. but nothing is
known as to their whereabouts. A new
Cabinet was formed, the King issuing his
mandates from the Russian legation. the
pound of which was guarded, within
by Russian marines, without by Korean
troops AS for the everyday life of the
city, it suffered no disturbance. Only the
leading politicians OF the kingdom were in
volved.
OF the seven men whose decapitation
was ordered by the King, two were already
in Japan. How it Jared with the rest re-
mains to be discovered. Most significant
was the action taken with respect to the
provincial insurgents. The troops dis
patched against them by the former Cabi-
net were Immediately recalled; proclama-
tion was made that the peoples true rea-
son for revolt had been to avenge the mur-
der of the Queen, and general amnesty
was announced. Thus, within a few
hours, every adherent OF the party OF
progress, that is to say, the pro-Japanese
party, was driven from office, and the ad
ministration was placed in the hands OF
Cabinet headed by Kim Pyong-si, the
leader of the conservatives, and composed
exclusively of anti-progressive, pro-Rus-
sian politicians, the seat of Government
being transferred from the palace to the
Russian legation. Strange to say. not one
of the prescribed politicians sought asylum
in the Japanese legation or consulates.
Neither was the coup d'etat accompanied
by rioting or anti foreign demonstrations;
Russian cooperation averted anything Of
that Kind.
The news of these events caused much
excitement in Japan. Unfortunately direct
telegraphic communication between Seoul
| and Toxic was interrupted at the time.
The line runs overland from Seoul to
Fusan, and thence by cable to Japan.
Whenever an insurrection occurs in the
southern districts of Korea one of the first
acts of the rioters is to cut the telegraph.
They had done SO several days before the
coup d'etat OF the 11th of February.
Hence the only means of communica-
tion was by telegraphing first to Chemul-
po, and then effecting junction with
Fusan, 400 miles distant, by steamer. But
as one steamer only happened to be avail
able at ChemuIpo her departure with the
first batch of kilograms created break OF
several days in the chain of communica.
tions.
The House of Representatives in Toxic
had desisted from its daily sessions until
the 18th of February, being engaged in