The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-26
JAPANsAND KOREA
Count Okuma Gives De-
tails of New Treaty. :
Russia Will Assume Joint ProteC-
ton With Japan-kingTRe
turns to His Palace.

Count Okuma, the Japanese Minister
OF Foreign Affairs, addressed the House
OF Representatives on February % on
the subject of Korea He described
succinctly the modern diplomatic re-
lations between Japan and Korea, out
of which grew so much unfriendly feel
ing. Almost Immediately after the con
clusion of the treaty of Balkan, in 1898
when Japan, after the war with China.
allied herself with Korea, came the
.cession Of Liaotung in conformity with
the advice OF Russia, Germany and
France. This action on the part of
Japan created doubts in the Korean
mind.
The internal affairs were at the time
in a state of unrest because OF mutual
suspicious barbored by different mem
bers of the royal family. These sus-
picions led to the disturbance of Feb
ruary. 1896. which eliminated in the
death of The Queen and the flight OF
Legation. Subsequently the lives Of
japanese were in danger in Korea,
and there became an imperative need
of an agreement between Japan and
Russia Such an agreement. the Min
lister was happy to state, had been
signed.
BY the terms of the agreement Japan
and Russia are to advise Korea as 20
her financial policy. and. if necessary.
will lend their support should there
be recourse to foreign loans. The ere
alton and maintenance of armed force
for the preservation of internal order
is left to Japan. Both nations will ad-
minister telegraph lines. and will keep
a sufficient guard to preserve the lives
and protect the Japanese settlements
and Russian legations and cOnsulates
In speaking of the present relations
between Japan and Korea. Count Oku-
ma said. Disturbances and discomfort
in Korea are daily diminishing. and
riots have also been suppressed. The
feeling of the Korean officials and peO-
pie towards Japanese is also imprOv-
ing. Whereas. at one time. Japanese
could not travel or trade outside OF
Soul. FUsan. Jiusen and Gensan. they
are now welcomed throughout the
eight provinces of the kingdom. At
PhyOng-yang. which was at one time
entirely deserted by Japanese. they
can now trade in safety. They also
carry on their business as far north as
Win on the YalU. the river which
marks the Chinese boundary. The
hostility that existed formerly between
the Japanese merchants and others in
Korea on the one hand and the Ko-
reans on the other has most UneXpect-
eddy disappeared and been replaced by
friendlier sentiments. The trade of the
TWO countries is uudisturhed and has
a tendency 10 increase; and in the
same manner the relations between
the two governments are also very
cordial The suspicious of His Majesty
the King of Korea have also been dis
PEELED. In November last when His
Imperial Highness Prince Komatsu
YorihitO visited Soul in his capacity
Of a naval officer. His Korean Majesty.
though then living at the Russian Le-
cation. went 10 his palace and receiv-
ed him with the heartiest expression
of welcome and good will This is suf-
ficient to indicate the great change
that has taken place in the Kings
sentiments toward Japan
Acting on the advice of the two