The record-union., 1896-04-20
CRISIS APPROACHING IN COREA.
A CHANGE OF MINISTRY MAY
TAKE PLACE.
The Japanese Will Probably Adopt
Vigorous Measures to Protect
Their Citizens.

|! SAN FRANCISCO, April 19.-Spe
cial correspondence of the United Press
from Toxic, dated April 1st, is as fol-
lows:
It is believed that affairs in Corea
are rapidly approaching another crisis
which will involve the downfall Of the
present Premier and his faction. The
idea is that Ii Pom Chin will evade the
difficulties Of his position by proceeding
to Russia ostensibly as Embassador to
attend the coronation ceremony, and
that PAX Yong-Ho, now in the United
States, will be summoned to head the
Government Rurnor now alleges that
the flight Of the. King to the Russian
Legation was entirely due to the mach
nations of Ii Pon-Chin. He deceived
both sides, the King by cleverly fab
ricated story that the Russian repre-
sentative was highly desrous of his
majesty'S secret removal to the lega-
ton, so that he might escape the fate
of his late consort, and the Russian
representative by an equally ingenious
pretense that the King eagerly wished
to seek asylum under the roof of the
Russian Legation against murderous
projects on the part of the japanese.
Both were imposed upon and thus the
affair of February 11th took place.
The number of Japanese subjects
murdered in Corea since February 11th
now totals thirty-eight, in addition to
five who are missing. Great patience
has been shown by the Government and
people of Japan in the face of these
outrages, the nations Indignation be-
ing curbed by an assurance that any
Tesolute employment of force to punish
the murderers might provoke collis-
ion with Russia But it now being evil
dent that Russia's designs in the penin-
sula are not SO matured or far reaching
as was originally supposed, the Japan
ese will probably adopt vigorous meas
ures to protect the lives and property
OF their nationals.
The market prices of nearly all COM
modities in Japan show a strong down
ward tendency There is a general
feeling of uneasiness throughout the
country In connection with Corean af-
fairs and the disastrous condition of
the silk business. supplemented by the
low quotations in the rice market and
the check that the export business ex-
perences by the lowness of silver.
The japanese Diet came to an end on
March 2Sth, having been prolonged for
two days to facilitate the passage of
one or two important bills. On the 10Th
the closing ceremony was performed.
The Emperor's message was couched
In exceptionally gracious words. His
majesty lauded the houses diligence,
patriotism and devotion to the public
interests" There was, indeed, good rea-
son for this display of imperial salts
faction. Never before in the history Of
the Japanese Diet had its proceedings
been marked by such moderation or by
so amicable disposition to support
the Cabinet. Out of 135 bills submitted
by the Government no less than 129
were passed and three only rejected,
the rest being either withdrawn or not
debated.
A company to build railway carriages
and locomotives is about to be started
by some of the leading capitalists in
Japan It will have factories in Toxic
and Osaka. where twelve locomotives
fifty passenger cars and 200 freight
wagons will be constructed yearly. That
will be a fresh blow to foreign import
ers.