The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-02
Japan's Intentions, as to Corea.

Japan's Intentions as to Corea.
1t ia reported from Japan that the
Government, ceding to the pressure of
the progresslst party, is about TO
adopt a strong policy toward Corea,
involving a protectorate which Will
differ little from annexation. The plea
is that the Coreans being incapable OF
reforming themselves or of being re-
formed the only thing to be done is TO
take the country in hand and develop
it under Japanese administration.
The futility of the efforts made by
Count INoUYE to institute reforms
through the Corean administration
after the war with China. furnishes the
japanese progressists with arguments
in support OF their demands that Japan
adopt vigorous policy with the easy
going and unenterprisng Coreans As
Lord CuRzoN in his Problems of the
Far Fast said, Coreans have no appetite
for reform, but rather abominate il in
every shape, and the moro when it is
offered 10 them by their hereditary
enemies and recent oppressorS, tho
japanese. Officially the Coreans cx-
pressed gratitude for the solcitude dis
! PLAYED by the Japanese for their well
being, but inwardly they entertained
nothing but aversion for their would-be
benefactors.
Foreign observers of the tendency of
affairs at Seoul are of opinion that the
Coreans will never allow Japan to die
tate TO them in matters of internal adj
ministration: and TO use force Japan
must break all the pledges made by her
at the beginning of the war. For the
present, md until the sentiment OF The
Powers Interested in Corea is clearly
ascertained, the Japanese Government
will probably refrain from overt action
in tho way of overthrowing or super
seding the native dynasty and Govern
ment, such az it is; but the latest
dispatches would indicate that Gen
HAsEGAwA of the Imperial Japanese
Guard commanding the troops in Corea,
is about to receive considerable reen-
forcements with which to oyerawe the
population who appear to be rather
well disposed toward the Russians
In the end. of course, it will make very
little difference in the matter OF Corean
independence whether Japan or Russia
wins, if either of them is allowed TO con-
troll the country. An international adj
ministraton would perhaps meet the
case and be of most advantage to the
Coreans themselves; but it is difficult 10
imagine either the Russians or Japanese
consenting TO such an arrangement.
The late Ii HUNG CHANG, in 1881, saw
that even then Japan's rising necessities
were driving her 10 aggressive designs
upon Corea, and expressed TO a Corean
official the opinion that the only way TO
Illustrate them was for Corea 70 ally !
itself with Western nations. Lord CURzoN, !
in 1884, believed in the policy of main
tanning China in the position of protector
which she had before filed: but the |
results of the Chinese-Japanese war and |
the present struggle with Russia have
entirely altered the status of Corea. /
That country il now but a pawn in a |
great game the issue of which has yet /
to be determined.
Whatever the general issue of the war
may be- however, it may be safely pre-
dicted that the japanese will be found to
have no intention of relinquishinG SO
valuable a field of exploitation and Of |
expansion for their cramped population,
even if they should have TO contend for .
it against a coalition Of the Western !
Powers, Of which they have no reason |
to be apprehensive. They will be able
to plead that circumstances have altered /
cases, so far as their original intentions /
and pledges may be in question; and !
the argument will probably be accepted /
as valid one if it is accompanied by !
sufficient guarantees to foreign interests. |
The outbreak Of disorder just reported |
from Seoul will help to bring about tho |
solution desired by the Japanese.