Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-09-01
THREAT TO AMERICA (R0WDB RtAKSRF(OID
SENSATIONAL SPEECH MADE
BY PEACFMAKER De WITTi
SAYS JAPAN'S HOLD IN KOREA
WILL BE UNDoING OF AMER.
IcAN INTERESTS IN
10 YEARS.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. II. - The
debate in yesterdays conference over
the first condition-the recognition of
Japan's "preponderating influence" ov.
er Korea, involving her right to con.
troll the administration of the Hermit
Kingdom, was the littoral for strategic
purposes, etc.-was of a remarkable
character. Indeed, the position taken
by NJ. de Witte was sensational In the
extreme. His attitude reveals plainly
the Russian tactics. They propose to
raise before the world the specter of
the yellow peril" Russia claims that
Japan's present purpose is to get foot
hold on the Asiatic continent, from
which to extend her dominion.
De Whites Sensational Speech.
NJ. de White made no objection, but
he declared the words "prepondcrating
influence" did not adequately describe
what japan proposed to do, and he in.
sisted that the language used should
show Japan's true purpose, which, he
contended, was to make a Japanese
province Of Korea. His argument
might be summarized as follows:
Russia has no objection to Japan
taking Korea. but you must avow 1t
plainly. II 1t is to be taken, 1t should
be taken officially, so that the world
will understand purpose to take pos.
session OF the persons OF the entire
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 that
Korea is to belong to Japan. So be
1t. Russia will not object, but Japan
should ayow purpose which Is
against the interests of Europe and
america and especially against the
and even of your ally, England. II
this Is satisfactory to you and Amer.
lea, Russia raises no protest. You
propose to destroy every vestige of
'h' soNNi'itsh'y VI 'lN VI No-
rea, but you desire to employ a formu.
la which will conceal your true pur.
pose. The country which will suffer
most is America, which will under,
stand 1t in about ten years, when II is
too late"
komura Answers Adversary.
To this argument Baron Komura
dissented most vigorously, although in
the most friendly manner, contendlng
that Japan only sought to secure for
herself In Korea the commercial and
industrial positions to which she was
entitled and to aid In its civilization
and development, as well as to protect
the kingdom from administrative an
archy.
| The fact that the Korean question
should be the first to be discussed In
the peace conference is strangely fit
ting, as 1t was over Korea that the
long struggle between Russia and
Japan, which eliminated in the pres
ent bloody war, began. After japan
| Nos ioi'cu out VI ioit AIlHuT auu
Liaotung in 1895, each became suspi
cious of the intention of the others
influence in Korea, and, first in the 10
banoff agreement of 1896 and later IL
the Nissi Rosen agreement OF 1898
they entered upon mutual obligations
In the former Japan secured the RICH
to protect the imperial family and t
build the Seoul-Fusan telegraph AM
Russia to establish telegraph line
from Seoul to the Russian frontier II
the latter. while there were mutua
obligations to protect the independence
and territorial integrity of Korea, ia
pans industrial and commercial pos
ton in Korea was recognized. Eve