The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
Warship. for the Orient.
RUSSIA IN KOREA.
Correspondents Of Shanghai News
papers Tell of the Approaching
Crisis In the Turmoil.

The Russian bear Is pressing matters In
Korea Not content with practically SELF
ing both the finance and customs systems
OF the country, the ears envoy. NJ De
Speyer- has caused the appointment or
Russian instructors in the army, and has
placed a Russian officer In charge Of the
arsenal.
crisis Is approaching In the Russian
Japanese imbrogllo in the Land OF Ever
lasting Turmoil" A special dispatch from
the Shanghai correspondent of the Hong
kong Telegraph states that there is good
reason to apprehend a serious crisis in the
political relations between Japan and Rus
STA.
The Seoul correspondent OF the North
China Daily News says:
We are on the eve OF important changes
which Will not only affect the Korean ma
ton, but change the whole aspect of az
fairs In the far East. and, unless one or
more Of the treaty powers interfere. Korea
will speedily become Russian territory. NJ.
de Speyer is a much ADLER diplomat than
was NJ. Waeber. in fact, the two can
scarcely be mentioned in one sentence.
they are so utterly unlike. not only in man
her, but in policy. NJ Waeber spent most
OF his time in the study and left the duties
of his office to Others, while NJ. de Speyer
has been most active since he landed, and
although he has been in Korea scarcely
more than month. he now has the whole
country III his grasp. The army is entire
~ under Russian instructors tand l must
add that the troops are wonderfully Well
instructed, the arsenal is in charge of
Russian officer. and now Mr.. Alexief has
come TO Korea 10 take Mr.. MacLeavy
Browns place as adviser to the finance de-
partment A number Of other foreigners
whose contracts have now expired are not
TO have them renewed. Some OF these were
never needed, for their advice was never
sought. nor taken IL given, and they were
chiefly employed at the earnest soiicita-
ton OF the country's representative at
Seoul With Mr.. Brown. however. the case
is different. He has been enabled. in TWEEN
ty months, to accumulate sufficient money
TO pay of the 100000 loan OF Japan, and
now, just as he has accomplished Ii. the
finances are to be taken out of his hands.
This fact will be very much regretted. for.
as / said before unless one OF the treaty
powers tbeSides Japan, which need not be
reckoneD interferes. Mr. Alexieff will take
charge OF the finances before this letter
reaches Shanghai
Japan in the meanwhile is not Idle, and
has now begun to build barracks in Fusan.
The japanese feet has been surveying all
the southern coast OF the peninsula, and
will soon pay visit to Chemulpo. They
have and are still using money freely in
purchasing the good Will OF Korean off,
Gals
Commenting on the situation, an edi-
terial writer on the Telegraph says:
The special telegram from our Shang-
hal correspondent today is of a most
serious nature IL correct Ever since hus-
STA interviewed in the Korean question. rob-
blng Japan OF the l.id0tung peninsula,
with the valuable fortresses of Port
Arthur and Taienwan. and wounding
keenly the pride of the rising power. there
has been suspicion Of a bitter feud be-
tween the two rivals for suzerainty in
Korea. Japan's conduct in the last two
years, II not evidence of q determination
10 have revenge. is at any rate consistently
reconcilable with the belief that she
means 10 be ready for fight the next
time Il dispute arises and fight to the bit
ter end. She processes wish for peace.
but she always has the honesty to qualify
the profession with an ass france ts4t ste
will not again submit 10 be trampled on;
ard she has spent on new warships every
yen she could scrape up. She has now
the Full I'm Japan and the Yashima only
three or four DAYS off, and whatever her
serious statesmen may say or think. Il is
impossible in Japan To ignore the fire.
brand politicians and the latter-day
delnagoguss. The mere sight OF such
splendid lighting machines must send a
thrill Of iingoism through the nation"