The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-20
KOREA THE STORM CENTER.
United States Minister Allen ON the
Far East Question.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Col, Oct. 49,
Horace n. Allen, United States minister to
Korea, who has been in that country for the
past eighteen years and who is en- route
to the Orient. spent the day in Colorado
Springs. He left Seoul last spring, crossed
Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railway and
spent the summer in Europe and the United
States.
Regarding the political situation in the
East, Mr.. Allen said: so far as the nego-
tiations that are now being carried on by
Russia, China and Japan. 1, of course. do
not care to be quoted. Our position is that
of neutral friend to each, and they all
three feel very friendly toward the United
States. However the matter may be de-
cided, ii seems that it will not be to the
disadvantage of America. Many of the tele-
grams We see In the press here show UNI
mistakable signs of inaccuracy and SEN
sationalism an dealing with the present
Oriental situation, and ii is good plan 10
await confirmation before forming con-
illusions upon them
Korea is regarded as the storm center of
Asia. 1t has been under the alternate do
minion Of China, Russia and Japan. Since
Japan waged a successful war with China
to secure the absolute independence of
Korea, China has been left out of the count
and the strife for supremacy has been
between Russia and Japan. During the
year past Russia has begun to operate a
timber concession, said to embrace most OF
the noi thern frontier of Korea. In the
operation of this concession, the Russian
concessionaires have run counter to the in
terests Of the japanese, who held similar
agreements with local magistrates. 1t is
thought that this concession may lead TO
serious consequences.
LAS to the port Of Mah-San-Phio, on the
south coast of Korea, near Japan, which
has been a bone of contention between Rus
STA and Japan for some time, IL is true that
Russia has obtained from Korea the allot-
ment of ground for a special Russian set
Element and coaling station, but this was
Offset and then nullifed later on by sim
liar allotment granted to Japan. Any at
tempt OF either power TO occupy these set
Elements In a military way would doubtless
lead to serious difficulty.
81 have been Impressed with the fact that
by the expenditure of the 100000 900 in the
construction of the Siberian Railway and
cities and the suppression of the Man
churian bandits who had formerly made IL
impossible for the people to market their
produce, Russia has brought order into
this immense agricultural region of Man.
churia and has thereby made possible ar
which now comes from the United States
This shows that Manchuria is "A splendid
and growing field for American commerce
while at Port Arthur, although that is
not a commercial port. saw two steamers
unloading, one a cargo of American bee,
and the other cargo OF American flour
My observations led me TO the conclusions
that the imports from Russia were large
ly composed of Vodka, the native drink
Russia is not manufacturing country and
they therefore receive their manufacturer
products very largely from other nations
The Russians with whom / talked all ex
pressed themselves as very favorable Il
American commercial enterprises.