Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-28
Report That Her Fleet Has Arrived
at Port Hamilton.
ENGLISH FLEET Is REINFORCED
Peculiar Contract Under Which
Russia Seized Corea.
SITUATION GROWS CRITICAL

LONDON, December 2S-The Globe this
afternoon says a private telegram reached
LoEdon last evening, announcing that over
twenty British warships have arrived at
Port Hamilton.
y special dispatch from Shanghai says
the British fleet has anchored at Port
Hamilton.
The dispatch further says that a re-
port is current at Chee Eco to the effect
that the japanese feet hls also arrived at
Port Hamilton.
Russia's Contract With COrea.
TACOMA. wash. December 2S.-The pc
culiar AID remarkable contract under which
Russia seized the Corean finances and GUS
toms and thereby forced out McLeavy
Brown. the representative of English in
terests, recently and which SO Offended
England that the British Pacific squadron
has been dispatched to Chemulpo. near
Seoul, the capital of Corta, has been trans
lated, and for the first time is made
public. The complete text is as follows:
In accordance with the commands of
the Emperor of Corea. the Corean min
lister plenipotentiary in Russia, Min Ion
Hwan. having requested the imperial Rus
sian government to send to Corea an Off
cial versed in finance, whose functions
would be TO transact all the financial busi-
ness in Corea and to take charge at the
same time of her customs. the Russian
government acceded to the request and di-
rected Sir. AleXien described member
of the great councilD to proceed to Seoul,
where he recently arrived.
Now, therefore, the COrean minister of
foreign affairs and the Russian minister
acting behalf of their respective gov
cr1menJS, have consulted as to the duties
to BE henceforth undertaken by Mr.. Alexief
and have agreed follows:
Adviser to Finance Department..
MIR. Alcxieff is appointed as adviser to
the Corean finance department and as SUI
perinterdent of customs. The various de-
partmerts and offices of Ccrea shall con-
duct the financial affairs appertaining to
them in accordance with the recommends
ticns and directions OF the financial adviser
and shall supply lin with whatever docu-
nentaIy assistance or aid of any other kind
he may require. the financial adviser shall
SIC tally provide suitable person to super
intend the CCrean customs in lieu of the
pI esent occupant of that post. The super
inteEdent of customs shall report TO him all
eApe.ditures and receipts. Should the finan-
cial adviser have occasion to leave his post
he shall previously select a competent
locGm tens, ara shall make him discharge
his duties during his absence. The person
So selected must be approved by the Corean
government and the Russian government
In the event of the financial adviser retura-
ing to Russia, he shall not leave Corea un-
til a successor has arrived to discharge his
duties. The period of this engagement is
III limited"
Seizure Was Permanent.
1t is dated October 5. 1t will be seen that
Russia not only seiZes the finance and Gus
toms of Corea, but proposes to forever hold
the same, Notwithstanding that in her
atty with Japan after the Chino-Japan
war she specifically agreed to join Japan
in maintaining the independence of Corea
and not to do any act that would jeopardize
Japan's influence there.
McGeayy Brown refused to accept his dis
nissal, and returned his discharge to the
King and Emperor of Corea. He appealed
to the British consul and the latter report
III the situation to England.