Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-11-21
Practically Takes Charge
Of the Entire Country.
Corean Emperor |ncensed and
Internal Strife Feared.
American Legation May Be Tenn
porary Refuge for Him.

Seoul, Nov. 26.-The conference off
nearly a week between the Japanese
ENJOYS headed by Marquis Ito, and the
CoreIn cabinet, ended, Friday, and was
followed, early Saturday morning, by
another hours sitting at the palace
with the Emperor.
At the beginning of Saturdays ses-
sion Baron Hayashi declared his deter
mination not to withdraw until the
four demands made by Marquis Ito
were signed. The suspense was ended
at 1.2O O'Clock in the afternoon, when
the cabinet, with the exception of the
minister of agriculture and the min
lister of foreign affairs, Pakchism, hav-
ing yielded, sent for the imperial seals
and signed the desired agreement. The
four Japanese demands were as fol-
lows:
1.-The appointment of a Japanese ad-
ministrator to govern Corea under the
Emperor.
2-The appointments of Japanese ad-
ministers at all treaty ports
3-The transfer of Corean diplomatic
affairs to Toxic.
mo arrangements to be made with
other powers without the consent of
Japan.
Three thousand Japanese soldiers
maintained Il demonstration all Friday
on the Esplanade before the old pail
ace. japanese troops patrolled the
streets all night. The Emperor's pal
ace was also surrounded by troops and
Japanese soldiers and police were
lodged in the grounds of the palace.
Minister Pakchism in leading the Op-
position against the signing of the de-
mands of Marquis Ito adjured the En-
peror with the most powerful argu-
ment possible to superstitiOus be-
nighted sovereign; namely that his
consent would affrOnt and outrage all
the spirits of his imperial ancestors.
Aftel the refusal of the Emperor to
return the first visit of Marquis Ito, the
marquis remained in the background.
The conference between Baron Hay
ashi and the COrean cabinet which led
to an agreement began, Friday MORN
ing, at the japanese legation and was
so violent as to attract attention on ad-
jacent streets. 1t resulted in Pakchisun
and the minister of agriculture dra-
matically denouncing the proceedings
and withdrawing to the palace where
they secluded themselves with the EN-
peror.
The Emperor then ordered that the
ministers who consented to the Japan
ese demands he assassinated. After the
signatures and seals We're attached the
Japanese military paraded through the
city.
Baron Hayshi after securing the con-
sent Of the majority of the cabinet
went from the legation to the palace
where he attempted to convince the
Emperor and the two remaining minis
ters of the justice of his mission, but
failed. He then secured the seals
through the other ministers.
The Emperor took alarm at the con-
tents and tone of Marquis Ito's creden-
tials when they were presented to him
on the day after the arrival of the mar
quis. His alarm was Increased because
the Japanese sought to have the mar
quis occupy the EmperOr's audience
chambers and there receive a return
visit from the Emperor, who resisted
fegning sickness. 1t required five days
to arrange an interview regarding the
mission of Marquis Ito and then a con-
fidential interview was had at which
the Emperor referred the entire matter
to his cabinet.
1t is said among his diplomats that
the Coroan ministry has steadily mis-
managed the final event in subverting
Corean sovereignty which was an in
eritable sequal to the protocols of Feb
ruary ard of September, 1905.
1t is said that though entitled by
treaty to a dignified appeal to the good
officers of America and other powers
to assist in the rectification of alleged
japanese injustices, the ministers pre-
ferred fruitless, underhand means. 1t
Is thought that at the present time, the
throne has three secret agents abroad
for the purpose of securing interven-
ton. One of them is in China, the Sec
ond, vi Yongik. is in France and Mr..
Hurlburn is now in America with $4,000.
conflict between civil and military
authorities is now expected and Minis
ter Hayashi has already sent a strong
circular to all japanese consuls in Co.
rea to administer justice impartially.
After the presentation of the Mika-
dos Gift to the court it is reported that
substantial sums of money were used
to satisfy the ministers who consented
tc the Japanese demands. About 30 900
Japanese soldiers billeted on the peo-
PIE OF IN barracks are at the service
OF the Japanese, but no disturbances
are expected.
Foreign officials took no part in the
foregoing events, though, Friday. at
Continued on Page Twol