The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-01
REASON FOR INTERVENTION

11uUllltOU-
REASON FOR lNTERVENTION.
Why Great Britain is Concerned in Co
Situation.
The aggressive policy % Russia in the
East rs forcibly illustrated by recent events
in Corea, says w. +. Curtis in recent
letter from Washington to the Chicago
Record. A year or two ago Russia and
Japan entered into Il treaty of alilanc" uiI-
der which they agreed to assume Jointly
the responsibility of preserving the peace
and providing Il good government for that
distracted country. In the division OF re
sponsibilites Russia seized the most i'm
portant posts. She took command OF the
army ana the poiIce and the direction of
foreign affairs. leaving Japan the depart
ment of education. agriculture and other
comparatively unimportant branches of
the government.
The collection of revenues and the man
agemcnt of the finances WAS left in
charge of an EngliShman by the name
of McLeayy Brown. who held the title
of adviser to the tinan department and
chief commissioner of customs. 1t was
his duty to see to the honest collection
of customs duties and internal taxes and
to prevent the COrean officials from plum
dering their own treasury, as they have
been i'll the habit of doing in the past.
tory officer.
During the first nineteen months of
his administration the expenses of the
government were reduced S3UO.0H per
year and the revenues We're increased
S2,VHUD. On million dollars was paid
upon the debt held by Japan. and Lanu-
ary | next that obligation. which
amounted in all to s.. .OOO. 900. was to be
cancelled. There was a pleasing prospect
that the entire Indebtedness of Corea
would be paid i'll another year and that
there would be surplus for the CON
struction of new buildings which are
much needed and other public improve
mentS.
Early in Noven. Der, however. to the sur
prise of all concerned, there appeared in
Seoul aS Il guest at the Russian legation
Mr.. AleXIeff. whose calling cards bore
the title, III French. counselor of state
and agent of the ministry of finance of
the imperial Russian government" and an
inscription IN Chinese which read. ''Su-
perintendent of the finances of Corea.'
These cards We're circulated by Mr..
AleXlef on his way TO Corea from St Pc
tersburg, where his engagement was made
some months ago with Min Yeng- Whan.
the Corean ambassador to Russia. Mr.
PAX Chung Yang. the minister of finance,
at Seoul declares that he was not CON
suited and knew nothing about the mat
ter. 1t seems that the Gar finding it
expedlcnt to strengthen his hold upon
Corea. induced or compelled the Corean
ambassador at St Petersburg to enter
into contract with Mr.. Alcxief to man
age the finances of his government with
out even consulting the King or any of
the authorities at Seoul. This autocratic
act illustrates the power and the policy Of
Russia toward both China and Corea.
The day after the arrival of Mr.. Alex
Jeff at Seoul he called upon PAX Chung
y tt,.
ny with Mr.. Speycr, the Russian min
lister, exhibited his contract with Min
1eng- han and announced that he was
ready to enter upon his duties at once
Mr.. Pax explained that the government
was already enjoying the services of Ne
Leavy Brown, which We're eminently sat
lsfactory. that no change was contcm-
plated or desired and that the Corcau
ambassador at st. Petersburg had no au-
thorNy or right to Interfere with the
hnance department or enter upon such a
contract as Mr.. AlcNieff had shown. Fur
thermorr, the contract between the gov
ernment and Mr. Brown would not ex-
plre tor three years and four months
The Russian minister responded that
Mr.. AleXleH had been sent by the Gar
10 manage the finances of Corpa at the
request of the Corean ambassador: that
he was ready to enter upon his duties
and that if the minister Of finance ones
be considered a reflection upon his soy
erelGn. and Corea would have TO take the
consequences. With more courage and in
dependence than Il Corean official often
displays. Mr.. Pax replied that Mr.. Nc
IeavJ Brown lad been placed in charge
of the financial department under Il con
tract for Il stated term of five years by a
decree OF the Emperor and could not be
displaced by the COrcan ambassador at
ST. Petersburg.
When the Russian minister returned to
his legation h" Immediately prepared and
sent to the minister of foreign affairs of
Corea a note demanding in the name of
the Gar that the contract with Mr..
AleXief be recognized n once. The min
lister of foreign affairs returned an
evasIye answer. explaining that the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Alexieff was n sur
PRISE 10 the government, and had been
made without authority or consultations
but was now under consideration hv the
cabinet and the decision would be com
municated to him in due time
Mr.. SIeyer then sent Il second note even
more dlctatorial and threatening than the
first. He declared that if a favorable
answer was not forthcoming within TWEEN
ty-four hours he would cable his govern
ment for instructions. The same after
noon he called upon the Emperor and
was Cl0setel with him for more than an
hour. The next morning it was an
nounced that the services of Mr.. McIeayy
Brown as chief commissioner of customs
and adviser to the finance department had
been dispensed with and that Mr.. Alex
Jeff had been installed in his stead.
Thereupon Mr.. Brown appealed TO the
British minister. who cahled the facts to
London and asked for instructions. which
had not been received when the latest
mails left Corca. Since then the Coreaa
government has promulgated its contract
with Mr.. AleNieff. which gives him ahso-
lutte control of the finances and authority
to appoint and remove his subordinates
1t also provides that his term of service
shall remain indefinite and that if al any
time he should leave the office he must he
succeeded by another Russian.
This bold invasion Of Corca gives the
Russian government absolute control of
the revenues the disbursements and its
financial policy. which is equivalent 10 a
proteCtorate. No protests have been en-
tered by the minister Of Great Britain,
Japan or any Of the rival powers. They
have. however. communicated the facts
to their governments. and are awaiting
instructions. In the meantime. Mr.. Cho
the minister of foreign affairs has de-
ClIned 10 discuss the matter with mem-
beTS Of the diplomatic CORPS.
Recent mails from China bring the news
that the Russian government has stationed
two hattalIonS of CoS>lcks in Mauchuria
on the preteNt of protecting the engineers
who are laying tn" railway line which is
to connect the great Siberian railway
with the yellow sea. hut il is really mill
tary occupation of the northern province
Of China.
RUSSIA'S COREAN CONTRACT.
Synopsis of the Peculiar Document
Which Nay Lead TO War