The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-09
THE EASTERN QUESTION
A SIGNED ARTICLE FROM A RUSSIAN
EXPERT,
Thinks tiis Government Has Advantage
Over Japan, Though Admitting a
Loss OF Prestige.

Correspondence OF tho Associated Pressl
ST. Petersburg, July 20.-M. Syroimisi,
nixon, the Eastern question specialist of
the Noyoe Nremya. has signed article In
that journal on the sinking OF the Russian
prestige in Corca, lie begins by quoting
this from a Corcan newspaper:
''ihc English and Japanese ministers and
Counsellor kato OF the Corean court have
come to an agreement to the following Of
feet In important questions of Internal ad.
mlnistratlon aud foreign affairs, England
and Japan viii support Corca In the main.
tepance Of her Independence and CGrea
ohiigates herself to develop her marine aud
hrmv In due measure. IN case COrea needs
foreign loan she may place II only In
Japan, England or America. Foreigners
can not enter the Corean service. lmme.
diutc measures must be taken to defend
Corcan territory aud protest must be made
against the enterprises u other powers
which appear TO Interfere with the defense
Of CorcG.'
Every one who follows Oriental affairs"
bitterly writes NJ SyromatnikoA. "is
aware that every step of Russia, since L q
Chinese war, has met with opposition IN
Coreu."
The news quoted IN the beginning now
gives legal form TO tho actual supremacy OF
Japan and England which began With An
glo Japanese alliance.
IN deinll Is related how the nomination
OF Jnpnpese Koto as counsellor of court
met February IL Of this year with the pro-
test Of the Russian minister. who Informed
the Corean ministry of foreign AFFAIRS that
II a JAPANESE subject was named counsellor
Of the court. Russia would demand the APP
pontment 81 N. .Alexien as counsellor OF
the ministry OF hnaucc. In spite Of all
however, the appointment OF NJ. kato was
proceeded with,
on February 10 the Russian minister In
formed the COrean foreign office that japan
Iud "a tplrEIAt1hfr
cables along ,he Corean coasts, Russia de
sired the consent Of Corea 10 the union OF
their telesrapblc lines NJ Gensan. Corei
refused aud sent forces 10 destroy the lines
already constructed across the frontier. The
Russian minister continues this unusually
frank recital notified the Coreau govern.
meut that an attempt 20 Interrupt the con.
tinuatiou Of the telegraph line from Viad-
livestock so Gepsin would be deemed mn
inimical act and would be followed by IN
friendly relations between the two govern.
monts. Nevertheless. Russia again yielded
and proposed another route from Seoul TO
junction with the Russian line to Pekin.
At the same period Corea bought 100000
worth % ordnance and an English artillerist
was sent 10 Instruct the Coresn gunners.
The greatest danger for Russia. says this
writer would be for England II Japan cams
TO establish a naval station In the soulh
from Port Arthur.
He fears the agreement Of 1900 forbidding
any such station would not prevent some
ciul rights, from building docks, cannon.
foundries, etc
This hong series Of checks has. Il Is adj
mitted, seriously diminished Russian pres
tige, which was 50 high In 1896. The
remedy NJ. syromiatnikon Hes In closer
commercial relations, more consulates and
Russian banks, calls Of Russian steamers
at Corean ports, aud support of the Chinese
who are now handicapped by adverse rnan-
clal and steamer connections. He also rec
ommends more frequent display 81 the
Russian war dag In Corean waters The
concluding words are:
eve have learned, II would seem, enough
lin any event the japanese have not sot
such thick descriptions OF Corea nor such
excellent maps Of Corea as we possess.