The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-14
Should Avow Their Purpose.

Russia has no objection to Japan
taking Korea, but you must avow IL
plainly If it is to be taken it should
be taken officially so that the world
will understand your purpose to take
possession of the persons of the en-
tire administration of the kingdom from
the emperor down to the smallest OF
the people. Korea will have no rep
resentative abroad who can explain
the situation from the standpoint of
the Koreans. All of which means
Korea is TO belong to Japan So be it.
Russia viii not object. but Japan
should aVow purpose. which is against
the interests of Europe and America,
and practically against the interests of
the United States, China and even of
your ally, England. If this is salts
factory TO you and America, Russia
raises no protest. You propose to de-
strOy every vestige Of the sovereignty
of the emperor of Korea, but you de-
sire to employ a formula which viii
conceal your true purpose. The coun-
try which viii suffer most is America,
which will understand il in about ten
years. when it is too late.
. To this argument Baron Komura dis
scented most vigorously, although. in the
most friendly manner, contending that
Japan only sought to secure for her
self in Korea the commercial and in
dustrial positions to which she was en-
titled and to aid in it's civilization ana
development. as we'll as to protect the
kingdom from administrative anarchy.
Trouble Began over Korea.
The fact that the Korean question
should be fhe first TO be discussed IN
the peace conference is strangely fit
ting. as il was over Korea that the
long struggle between Russia and ia
pan. which eliminated in the present
bloody war. began. After Japan was
forced out OF Port Arthur and Lao
Tung i'm 1895. each became suspicious
OF the intention OF the others influence
in Korea. and first in the Lebanon
agreement of 1895 and later in the Ms
ST. Rosen agreement in 1898 they en-
tered upon mutual obligations. In the
former. Japan secured the right to pro-
tect tho imperial family and TO build
the SeouI-Fusan telegraph and Russia
TO establish telegraph lines from seoul
to the Russian frontier. In the latter,
while there were mutual obligations 10
protect the independence and territorial
Integrity % Korea Japan's Industrial
and commercial position in Korea was
rccoenized. Ever since Korea has been
the hone of contention, Japan mas al
WAYS been Suspicious of Russian en-
enactment. Al last the continued &C
cupation of Manchuria by Russia ana
the Yalu lumber concessions induced
Japan TO try to- come 10 definite set
tIernent with Russia in the negotiations
preceding the war. These proved futile
and i'm the japanese imperial rescrfpt
declaring war, the emperor OF Japan
said:
.sTsne safety of Korea is IN danger
The interests OF the empire are men
aced.'
The fate of Korea comes up at Ports
mouth Cor final settlement.
Secrecy Agreement.
The Japanese version of the origin and
history az the decision. Of the plenipo-
tentiaries TO observe the strictest secrecy
REGARDING the proceedings OF the peace
conference differs materially from the
Russian. From an authoritative Japanese
source the Associated. Press is informed
that secrecy was one of the conditions
Dreliminiarily arranged between the rep
rcsentatives Of the two countries at
Washington before the plepipotentiaries
arrived IN this country One of the chief
reasons advanced by count Cassini for
not desiring to have the conference held
in Washington was that public sentiment
IN America was hostile to the Russians
and that the proceedings could not be
kept out Of the press. Therefore he
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