New-York tribune., 1905-12-05
THE CoREAN "PROTEST."

The report emanating from Paris, that the
COrean government is formally protesting against
JapanS assumption Of q protectorate over the
Hermit Kingdom, and is seeking foreign-par-
ticularly French and Amerfcan-inhuence, II
not intervention, in behalf Of Corean indepen-
dence, is surprising that it must for the pres
ent be received with all reserve as perhaps the
product of one of those curious and almost in
explicable misapprehensions from which some
members of the alert and intelligent French press
occasionally suffer. We were told only a few
days ago that everything had been gracefully
settled at Toxic and Seoul, and that while Corea
was to retain autonomy in domestic affairs her
foreign relations were to be under Japanese con-
troll, and her diplomacy-and presumably her
diplomats-would henceforth proceed from Toxic
and not from Seoul and the text of the treaty to
that effect, duly made, is now disclosed. Ger
tainly it is surprising to be told that the Corean
sovereign is sending ministers out from Seoul to
protest to the powers of the world against any
such arrangement.
If such a protest were made can scarcely
conceive its being anything more than futile
Sentimentaly, some might regret that the Land
Of the Morning Calm and Of queer hats should
be stricken from the roll of independent SOW
ereignties Yet Corea was so long a recluse
unknown in diplomacy and international affairs
that she will now be little missed. Indeed, mas
her seclusion has been that of q bone Of conten-
ton, the cause of two great wars and since
there is little ground for hope that If left to
herself she would ever be anything more than
that. it may be a relief to the world and reas-
surance of peace to have her taken under the
tutelage and guidance of that power which is Of
all in the world best fitted TO exercise such iniu-
ence over her If the incident is regretted, there
should also logically be regret for innumerable
such incidents in history, achieved by almost
every nation Of Importance and making immeas-
urably for the peace, the progress and the up
lifting of the world.
There is no perceptible ground upon which
America or France could intervene in the mat
ter Prior TO 1882 Corea paid tribute to Japan
as the latter's vassal In 1876 she made treaty
of friendship and commerce with Japan. Not
until 1882 did she make such treaty with u.s.
and then. while we recognized her sovereign in
dependence. we did not, of course guarantee it
or promise 10 defend it. In 1894 both China and
Japan invaded Corea and Corea made appeal to
America for intervention in favor of peace and
the maintenance of Corean involability; but our
government would go no further than to tender
its good Offices TO the contending powers and to
| express benevolent wishes This country spe-
eifcally declined 10 join European powers in any
act of intervention. but it did most successfully
exercise its friendly offices for the ending OF the
war and the restoration of peace between China
and Japan-just 1t has since done between
Japan and Russia. In that war one OF the chief
issues was whether China or Japan should have
dominant influence in Corea. Japan won and
America acquiesced in the result. In this later
war the issue was whether Japan or Russia
should dominate Corea. Japan again. and
America, with all the world, acquiesces In the
result. All that this country is concerned about
is the maintenance of the 'open door and the
safeguarding OF American rights in Corea; and
it realizes that Japanese control Will mean a
wider opening of the door and a more secure