Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-12-29
Recent Reports Of Hap
penings in This Isle
Have Been Grossly Exaggerated
Says Durham Stevens.
He Is Diplomatic Adviser and Should Know
Japanese PrOtectorate Satisfactory.


letter to Il friend in this city. Durham
White Stevens, diplomatic adviser to
the Corean government, comments as
follows upon recent reports that the
treaty establishing Il Japanese pro-
tectorate was extorted by force:
In Seoul he says, 1--WE learn that
CuriOusly distorted accounts of the oc-
currences of the night of Nov. II have
been telegraphcd to America and Eu-
rope. One III particular to the Berlin
Lokul AnZeigcr, is especially mcnda-
cious. 1t speaks OF the tragedy in
Seoul of which reports have come
from well Informed quarters and as
serts that Marquis Ito. together with
Minister Hayashi and Gen. HasegaWa,
accompanied by large contingent of
Japanese troops, forced the Emperor
to sign the new treaty which they had
already prepared and brought with
them; that when Corcan ministers fled
II ON the palace in order not to affiX
the seal of state to document which
robbed their country of independence,
Japanese soldiers were sent after them
and that they were forcibly brought
back and ordered TO aniX their seals.
The account closes with a statement
that this violent act has led to tu-
multS among the people
"Another dispatch, To the China
Gazette, Shanghai, states that Mr..
Namano, accompanied by file of SOL
diers. went to II residence of the
minister of foreign affairs and fOrcib!y
brought the seal of the foreign office
to the palace. where the Japanese min
lister himself used it to seal the treaty.
POSSIBLY other canardS, equally sill
ly. hay" gained circulation at home.
and therefore, knowing your interest
in Eastern matters. | feel sure you
would like to know the facts.
"M&rQLis Ito came to Core;t with an
autograph letter from the Emperor of
Japan to the Emperor of Cor2a. This
letter expressed an earnest hope for a
closer union between the two countries.
It's tone and purport We're well cal:u-
lated to demonstrate Japan's friendly
intentions and to Soothc Corean Sus-
cortibiiity. The Choir" of an envoy,
moreover, was decidedly happy, rs
Marquis Ito is especially PERSONA
erata to the Emperor of Corea.
"He presented the autograph letter
y
later had a private audience of over
-four hours duration. He explained the
situation ard Juran'S wishes very full
" to the Emperor and the latter agreed
| in principle to the propositions which
the marquis stated would be formally
submitted later on by the Japanese
minister. The Emperor stated that the
decision regarding the details of the
new arrangement would be left to his
cabinet and gave orders that the latter
should consult with the Japanese min
lister.
conferences then cnsucd between
/ the cabinet and Mr.. Hayashi the last
one. by mutual agreement and in ac-
Cordancc with the Emp"rcrE taking
place at the palace. All of the cabinet
ministers came to this meeting in ac-
| cordancc with the pre-arrangCd plan
and there were no soldiers present eX-
| ccpt Corcan soldiers forming the pal
ace guard. The japanese minister. with
| his Sccrt tIricS ANA interpreters, attend
| ed and there WAS Il iull and frank dis
| cussion Of all details Of the proposed
| treaty.
Ultimately Marquis Ito WIS asked to
| General Hasegawa, but unattended by
| any soldiers save the small bodyguard
! Of half a dozen Gcndarmcs who go
| about with him everywhere in Seoul.
| The discussion then proceeded for ScN-
| cral hours amendments were proposed
| by the Corean cabinet and accepted
| and finally the amended form was
| agree. to by q MA jOrity of six out OF
| eight members Of the cabinet. There
| upon the treaty was signed and seated
| by the minister Of foreign affairs in
| conformity with the direct order Of the
| Emperor. During all these proceedings
| there was no show Of force and no un-
scemly exhibition of amy kind what
| ever The Emperor was not personally
present during the conference but, as
| is the custom, remained in his private
| rooms, whence he communicated his
wishes through the minister of the
| household or by on" or another Of the
| ministers summoned to his presence
| from time to time.
"Pcrhaps the fact that ut Iarqnis
| lto's farewell audience this afternoon
| the Emperor earnestly requested him to
defer his departure, which the mar
| lulS mas fbllStllttl u 90, Sblll'W Ild I
against his own wishes as ! happen to
know, is the best commentary one
| could make ui'on these alleged outrages
upon the Emperor and his cabinet.
The alleged rape Of tnc seal belongs
| to the same mythical category as the
| other story. 1t was brought to the pal
| Trc from the foreign Office, Where it is
| Kent. by tho clerk who has custody Of
| it, il obedience to orders given person
| "Of course there was opposition in
| tOrca to the treaty; il would be foolish
| 10 deny that patent fact. But there is
| no such thing as popular opposition in
| the sense in which we understand the
| word in America. There is opposition
| among the official classes. a great deal
of it, honest opposition based on mo-
| tives with which We can symnathiZc.
| although we may know them to be mis-
| taken. But there is even stronger on
| position among those officials and
| might add even some foreigners who
| haV" profltcd by the conditions of the
past which have brought Corca to her
| present stress. Naturally they see in
japanese domination the end Of all
| chance to exploit the country and its
| people.
| From the Japanese standroint SOM