The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26


of alliance under which they agreed to as
sumo Jointly the responsibility of preserv-
ing the peace and providing a good gov
ernment for that distracted country. In the
division of responsibilities Russia seized
the most important posts. She took the
command of the army and the police and
Japan the department of education, agri-
culture and other comparatively unimpor-
tant branches of the government. The coll
lection of revenues and the management
of the finances was left in charge of an
Englishman by the name of McLeavy
Brown, who held the title of adviser to
sioner of customs" 1t was his duty to
see to the honest collection of customs du-
ties and internal taxes and to prevent the
Corean officials from plundering their own
treasury as they have been i'll the habit
or doing in the past. Mr. Brown made a
capable and satisfactory officer. During the
first nineteen months of his administration
the expenses of the government were re-
duced S3,OO0,OOO per year and the revenues
were increased 81 900, 600. One million dol
lars was paid upon the debt held by Japan,
and Jan. 1 next that obligation, which
amounted in all to $S,O0Oc0O. was to be cam
celed. There was a pleasing prospect that
the entire indebtedness of Corea would be
paid in another year and that there would
be surplus for the construction of new
buildings which are much needed and other
public improvements.
Early in November, however, to the sur-
prise of all concerned, there appeared IN
Seoul as guest of the Russian legation a
Mr.. AIeXieff, whose calling cards bore the
title. in French, 'councilor of state and
agent of the ministry of finance of the I'M
perial Russian government" and an IN
scription in Chinese, which read: Superin-
tendent of the finances of Corea." Inese
cards were circulated by Mr.. Alexien on
his way to Corea from st. Petersburg,
where his engagement was made some
months ago with Min Yeng Whan, the Co
rean ambassador to Russia; M Mr; Pak *
Seoul, declares that he was not consulted
and knew nothing about the matter It
seems that the Czar, finding it eXpedient TO
strengthen his hold upon Corea, induced or
compelled the Corean ambassador at 81.
Petersburg to enter into contract with
Mr. Alexeff to manage the finances OF ms
government without even consulting the
King or any of the authorities at Seoul.
The autocratic act illustrates the power
and the policy of Russia towards both chi
ma and Corea.
The day after the arrival Of NJ. Alexieff
at Seoul he called upon PAX Chung yang,
the minister of finance, in company with
Mr. Speyer. The Russian minister, exhibited
his contract with Min Yeng Whan and an
nounced that he was ready TO enter, upon
his duties at .)nce. MIR. Pax explained that
the government was already enjoying The
services of Mr.. McLeaNy Brown Wh'cn
were eminently satisfactory, that no
change was contemplated or desired and
that the Corean ambassador at St. Peters
with the Finance Department or enter upon
such a contract as Mr.. AleXieff had shown
Furthermore, the contract between the
government and Mr.. Brown would not eA-
pre for three years and four months
The Russian minister responded that Mr..
Alexieff had been sent by the Gar 10 man
age the finances Of Corea at the request or
the Corean ambassador; that he was reaay
to enter upon his duties, and that If the
minister of finance questioned the validity
of the contract it would be considered re-
Election upon his sovereign, and Corea would
have to take the consequences With more
courage and independence than Corean OIL
ficial often displays, Mr.. PAX replied that
Mr.. McLeavy Brown had been placed IN
charge of the financial department under
af FAy fnf n6 n
by a decree of the Emperor, and could not
be displaced by the Corean ambassador at
ST. Petersburg.
When the Russian minister returned to
his legation he Immediately prepared and
sent to the minister of foreign affairs or
Corea a note demanding in the name or the
Gar that the contract with Mr. Alexteff
be recognized at once. The minister or
foreign affairs returned an evasive answer,
explaining that the appointment of Mr..
Alexieff was a surprise to the government,
and had been made without authority or
consultation, but was now under consider
alton by the Cabinet, and the decision
would be communicated to him in due time
Mr.. Speyer then sent second note even
more dictatorial and threatening than the
first. He declared that if a favorable
answer was not forthcoming within tWen-
ty-four hours he would cable his govern
ment FOR instructions; ms Inc same art aIfern09n a
closeted with him for more than an hour
The next morning it was announced that
the services of Mr.. McLeavy Brown as
chief commissioner of customs and adviser
to the finance department had been dis
pensed with, and that Mr.. AleXieff had been
installed in his stead; whereupon Mr.
Brown appealed to the British minister,
who cabled the facts to London and asked
for instructions, which had not been re-
ceived when the latest mails left Corea.
Since then the Corean government has
promulgated it's contract with Mr. Alexieff,
which gives him absolute control of the
finances and authority to appoint and re-
move his subordinates 1t also provides
that his term of Office shall remain indeti-
nite and that if at any time he should
leave the office he must be succeeded by
another Russian.
This bold invasion of Corea gives the
Russian government absolute control of
the revenues, the disbursement and it's finan-
cial policy, which is equivalent to pro-
tectorate. No protests have been entered
by the minister of Great Britain. Japan or
any of the rival powers. They have, how
ever, communicated the facts to their gov
ernmentS, and are awaiting instructions.
In the meantime Mr.. Cho, the minister of
foreign affairs, has declined to discuss the
matter with members of the diplomatic
corps.
Recent mails from China bring the news
that the Russian government has stationed
two battalions of Cossacks in Manchuria
on the pretext of protecting the engineers
who are laying the railway line which is
to connect the great Siberian Railway with
the Yellow sea, but it is really military
occupation of the northern province of
China