New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17


OF his attempt and failure. Under date of July
last Mr. SUI was instructed by the State Depart
ment mat the position assumed b. this Government
toward Corea since contracting a treaty with IL
In lss2 had In wise been affected 10y events which
had just previously occurred in the Hermit King
com and were then occurring there. Corea's treaty
OF independence Mr.. Sill informed
garded by the State Department as an established
and accepted fact. The correspondence took place
about the time that the Queen Of Corea muir
dered. Most OF II was conducted by telegraph. II
is apparent that Mr.. Silrs yearning for notoriey
was extreme. At the time he Dean of the
diplomatic body at Seoul Under date of October
% he telegraphed Secretary Olney:
Japanese Minister and officers Of his legation and
strict dureT. His life in peril. | do not recognize
DEGREES forced from him.
He followed this up November with
The King is still In grevous peril and under duress
OF conspirators. The representatives. OF England
I Russia. France and myself urging Japanese 10
protect the King and restore status By necessary
temporary force.
The following day he cabled:
Japan will restore status. using temporary force
II approved foreign powers. Russian Government
has telesraphed approval Answer Is expected from
graph.
Then Mr.. Oney acted. On November Il he cabled
Mr. Sill follows:
Intervention in political concerns OF Corea is not
among your functions. and is forbidden by diplo-
4 m tic instruction.
On the Goth Of the same month the Secretary
sent this TO the American Minister:
Contine yourself strictly protection Of American
citizens and interests You have concern In in
ternal affairs Your actions TO be taken independent
ly of other representatives unless otherwise in
structed
Mr.. Sill would not down. December he tele-
graphed the State Department:
Three days ago loyalists made a fruitless attempt
to capture royal palace. in consequence or which
usurpers very bold arrcsting and killing loyal
lists have eight refugees. no charge made against
Thorn li1fif hey f be
by the Kings father. demand may soon be made
for them for some or 4thfr :hdr Is or
Shanghai Will you authorize commander-in-chief
to grant them passage?
Again Mr. Olney spoke over the wire. lie said:
Refugees cannot be sheltered by you against Of
hcers Of de facto government charged WIN appre-
couuiry Ise Of Yorktown in manner suggested is
wholly nadmissble The Department sees with
TO interfere with local concerns and politics Co
rea, but to limit yourself strictly 10 the care
OF American interests.
Not content with this, Mr. Olney on December 81
wrote Minister Sill
The provision contained in Article OF our
6 h with ect Sa Eff Which oer deal
justly oppressivey with either government the
S Sie about an amicabe arrangement This pro-
vision in wise implies that our diplomatic repre-
without specifc instruction from this Department
use his discretion in determining whether the con
ouires him TO his good Offices in the interest Of
the OF the realm. On the contrary. IL re-
serves to the Government OF the United states inc
in lis Judgment Il did shortly before the beginning
Of hostilities between China and Japan in Corea;
when YOU were instructed by cable on June -. and
by the direction Of the President to use every pos
sible effort for the preservation OF peace. This
! Instruction only referred 10 events which were
! then occurring. and was not as you appear 10
/ think a standing instruction
MR.. SILL AT LAST SEES THE POINT.
Probably an answer TO this communication was
received at the State Department. but 1t has not
been made public There does appear. however a
telegram dated January 10 from Mr.. Olney in this
language:
Your dispatches received. Your course in CON
! tinued nterrneddling with Corean political affairs
! IN violation OF repeated instructions noted win
! astonshment and emphatic disapproval Gable
briefly any explanation you have TO make; also
answer whether you intend TO comply with IN
structions given
Then Mr. Sill "wilted" He telegraphed the fol-
lowing reply
Telegram received ! did Intentionally in
! Corea There will not be henceforth any cause for
| criticism. | will act according 10 instructions
! scrupulously. Affairs here quiet The LeSatlon
guard leaves on Wednesday. ! will write you fully.
Subsequently Mr. Sill wrote the Secretary Of
State a letter relative to his course In which he
said in conclusion after acknowledging his errors
II can only repeat what my telegram was intended
! TO make plain-that is, that am far from de-
string to be neglectful of instructions. and that
shall in future exercise extra caution 10 Keep well
| within them . -,
Clearly Sill must go in the collection OF Diplo-
mario Daisies which have bloomed In this Admin
! istration.