New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-14
A CRISIS COMING IN COREA.
TIE KING AND HIS MINISTER'S STILL AT
THE RUSSIAN LEGATION.
UNCERTAINTY WHETHER THEY ARE DETAINED
BY FORCE OR NoT-JAPANEsE JEAi~
OUSY OF RUSSIA

years of age claiming the protection OF the l'"9-
sian legation AID all the court business anu
official appointments are issuing thence l".'
state of affairs cannot continue indefinitely ahd'
indeed. matters will probably soon come 10
crisis. This morning had an interview with
the japanese Consul at this place, ana touhu
him very polite and communicative lie SAID
that the Russian Government were not detaln-
ing the King but that His Majesty was airaid
10 return TO his palace until his bodyguard was
fully armed and equipped 70 protect MIN. 1Hc
Russian Government have presented o'' r"'e'
10 the King, and he has dispatched snip 10
Vladvostock to bring them here lAeF a'''VV"
to-day. No one OF authority remains al present
in the palace, only a sort of head servant oe'"s
IN charge. There are $50 marines protecting
the Russian Legation, while japanese interests
are looked after by 800 men of the regular army
The American Minister Mr. Sill, SAID last
evening in answer TO question. that ne sa"
no reason why the Corean Government might
not be administered indefinitely from me NUS
sian Legation His opinion that no crisis 10 al
hand is not shared by the japanese mere I"'S
morning in conversation with Mr. Hhginara'
an adopted son of Marquis Yamagata. VINO mas
gone as envoy 10 Russia. I was told that the
situation could not much longer remain as l.
now Is Every act Of the Kings must be SUD-
mitted to Russian inspection. not 10 say dlc'a-
ton. While the King does not particularly op-
1ect to this espionage. as long as his person Il
protected from his enemies, Corean ana Jdpa"-
csc vet his ministers and subjects do; the former
especially as their power over their master Is
largely curtalled. and power in CHINA ana 'orea
Is only a means to obtain revenue The Corean
system of official squeezing is exactly the same
as that IN China When Iuen shin Kal was
Chinese resident. he constantly shipped ginseng
. -u-ar qn1
evading his countrys customs, was enabled 10
make large sums of money. Had this man kept
Ii Hung Chang informed as to the position in
Corea and the efficiency Of the japanese forces.
as he could easily have seen by their drill ana
perfect discipline. 1t ia doubtful II the battles
Of Yaloo. Wei Hal Wei and Port Arthur would
be recorded in history.
JAPANS YEARS OF PREPARATION.
Not that It could have in the end been overted.
for the Japanese have been working with the
conquest of China In view for many years.
Yesterday a perfect map Of North China was
shown me by Mir. Masuda, general manager or
the Mutsui Bushen Kasha upon which every
town, large village. road and stream was clearly
marked, with also the population and distances
given in an appendix No European map OF
China can compare with this for accuracy 1t
was prepared by spies Of Japan travelling as
Chinese through China foSl period OF five years
before the war They aT~ now doing the same
in Siberia so that in case of war with Russia
they will be well acquainted with the country.
One of the oldest engineers in the employ Of
the Nippon Yusen Kaisha said this morning:
"Our little school5oys are being brought up with
the idea that Russia is our bitter enemy. that
she despoiled US Of the full fruits Of our victory
over China and that her success in Corea d.
rectly meneces our national life; such ideas Will
bear fruit In a not far-distant period. and the
young men Of Japan will be eager for war with
the enemy"
1t may be that Japan will yield to expediency
in not pressing the conflict az present. but moth
ing short Of a Russo-Japanese alliance will pre-
vent Russo-Japanese With Marquis
Yamagata and Ii Hung Chang present at the
same time In Moscow. triple alliance might
be formed which would fill the British mind with
dread Japan does not want an alliance with
her despised enemy however, and ii is extremely
doubtful whether the Tsung Ii Yamen In Picking
have sufficient intelligence to acquiesce in
treaty with Japan Of offensive and defensive
union unless indeed 1t urged strongly by
Russia. Russia alone holds the key TO the situa-
ton China will do exactly Russia dictates
The Prime Minister Of Corea. Rung Shan. Is
seventy years old and is generally regarded as
man of little power. but certainly the superior
in intelligence Of the King. He held Office once
before for short time some three years since
but did not in any way distinguish himself 1t
is said that he deceived both the King and the
Russian Minister at the time entrance for refuge
was requested OF Russia. Should the King arm
his guards and return to his palace II IS highly
improbable the present Prime Minister will be
retained. And what Is England doing? is asked
She Is sending her ships around all the Eastern
ports following the Russian vessels; though for
what purpose Is hard 10 guess. / recently asked
German friend why England seemed to have
lost her prestige In the East. His answer was:
"vell. dis England dondt tnk she vas In IT,
II Is remarkable, nevertheless. that England has
taken leaf out Of Japans book and Is sending
her young military men over China and Corea
The number Of army captains. doctors and en-
gineers who have Language leave" is consd-
cradle. Language leave moons that they visit
the principal centres, with the apparent purpose
of acquiring the local dialect though for what
purpose no one Is able 10 explain, and after
year they are expected to return TO Hong
Kong Burmah or India, the case may be.
and undergo an examination-in what?
MODS IN SOUTHERN cOREA.
While all Is quiet in Seoul the southern part
OF the country Is disturbed By numerous moos.
which are attacking japanese wherever found.
Forty-fve japanese guards Of the telegraph
service were murdered by Coreans two weeks
after the King fed to the Russian Legation. and
this has been followed by numerous other MOP
attacks upon japanese subjects and their prop
erty mostly in the southern provinces. The peo-
pie are instigated 10 do this by few discon-
tented generals. who have until recently held
Office. and who hope that BY their fermentation
Of discord and riot the present Ministry VIII be
brought into dsrepute. and that changes favor
able to them will occur. The argument used is
that the Japanese cruelty murdered the inno-
cent q Queen. and caused the KING 70 issue