The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-05-06
WHAT CAUSED THE WAR
RUsso-JAPANEsE CONFLICT HAD
ITS INCEPTION IN 1894.


Noticeable in the Korean Question
An interesting Recital Of Diplomat
ic Negotiations.
An interesting recital of the incl
dents leading up to the war between
Japan and Russia is presented in re-
cent issue Of The Chicago Record-Her-
aid. 1t is pointed out by this writer
that the trouble practically had its in
ception in 1894, when Japan and emma
fought for Korea. China had from time
immemorial claimed a protectorate over
the hermit kingdom, but in 1876, soon
after the birth of modern Japan, the
latter country obtained from emma a
formal recognition of Korean indie
pendence and surrendered the suzer-
ain claims. In 1882 the Japanese Iega-
ton at Seoul was attacked by mob,
and this was made the preteXt for the
importation of a small army from Jap
an. This invasion resulted in pro-
test from China, and the outcome was
that treaty was signed providing that
both China and Japan should withdraw
their troops from Korea and not SEND
them back before official notification
had been given to either power A re-
volt in 1884 caused the Korean king to
call on China for help, and Ii Hung
Chang, who was then in power, sent
1000 men. Japan Immediately hurried
troops through the port Of Chemulpo
to Seoul, and demands for reforms were
made. In the turmoil that ensued the
Korean Queen Min was slain, and 1t
was said at the time that she had been
murdered by Japanese troops. The Jap
anese Minister Otori seized the person
of the king and then approached the
Chinese government with two propo-
sails: That China should recognize the
mikado's plan of reforms for Korea
and that Japan, in return, would recog-
nize the nominal suzerainty OF the
Pekin government over the peninsula.
1t was at this interesting point that
the hand of Russia was first notice
able. The car demanded explanations
as to the purpose of Japan, and the
mikado's government replied that 1t
had no designs on Korean territory.
In answer Russia emphatically declared
that she could not consent to any &C
QUESTION of territory by Japan. Eng
land, who also was unfriendly toward
Japan, suggested a general lnterVen-
ton, but the powers hesitated and the
tension increased. Meanwhile China
was preparing for conflict, and on
July 20, 1894, sent 10000 men to the
Korean port of Asan. Then war was
begun, resulting in a series of brilliant
victories for the Japanese, ana
practically ending with the capture OF
Port Arthur fortress, Nov. 20, 1894,
and in the fall of New Chwang, the
last Chinese stronghold, March A, 1880
Then came the negotiations for peace
and the more formidable appearance
of Russia on the scene. Japan had de-
manded the whole of Manchuria, which
is more than double the size OF the Jap
anese empire, the island of Formosa
and the recognition of the independence
of Korea as a sovereign state and an
indemnity VI dDOuI pZU,UUV,OOV'
China called on Russia for aid and
this time it was forthcoming with ala
Gritty. Germany and France also took
the part of China and England ad-
vised Japan to yield to the powers
The result was that Japan had to be
satisfied with an indemnity of $20,-
| 100000 and the island of Formosa, and
signed the treaty of Skimonosek1 IN
sullen and disconnected mood. Russia
at once demanded a guild pro quo for
the material aid it had given China.
The dowager empress and her advisers
we're speedily compliant, and lease
of a strip of territory across Manchu-
ria, which included Port Arthur and
Talienwan, was made to the ST. Peters
burg government This lease has still
about IS years to run, and is renew
able, and of course had always been
resented by Japan. This has been fol-
| lowed by continued Russian aggression
and by intrigue at the Korean capital.
There was another uprising at Seoul
five years ago, when the king fed for
protection to the Russian embassy. He
declared that he feared violence at the
hands of the Japanese, but this charge
the mikado's government declared to
be unfounded. However, the king re-
NAMED under Russian protection more
than year
Aftor extensive negotiations a treaty