Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-30
COREA NOT FOR COREANS
Kermit Nation is Reing Exploited 'Or
Japan'I Benefit,
ONE RESULT OF THE RUssO-J,P WAR
Traders, Artisans, Capitalists from
Japan Pouring Into COrea-Inter-
ests of Coreans DisreEnrded-
Commercial Enterprises.

Commercial Enterprises.
In a speech recently delivered at the din
ner Of the American Asiatic association
Baron Aoki, ambassador Of Japan to the
United States said that eastern Asia was
large enough to admit the commerce Of ali
nations without friction or jealousy. He
was certain that Japan recognized the fact
that throughout all Asia the maintenance
of the open door policy was as much to its
profit as to that of the western powers.
Other assurances coming either from
direct japanese sources or from sources
Influenced by Japan have emphasized the
fact that In the Industrial development OF
Corea, over which Japan now holds practi-
cal suzerainty, the mikados government
will find Itself so occupied as to preclude
activity elsewhere which might be con-
strued as dangerous by Jealous commercial
powers. In other words, It is announced
with conviction by pro-Japanese papers in
the far east and In London that Japan
cannot assume the role of a mischief
maker so long as the Japanese Corea is
In the making.
The work Japan is doing in the Hermit
nation takes on the character of capital
operation in the surgery Of economics
Corea, suffering from the dry rot of ages
has been put upon the table by the states
men at Toxic and the process of remould-
ing and revivifying the moribund indus
trial life of the country is being carried on
without the use of anaesthetics.
Began mt Beginning.
The japanese began to take over Corea
with the first gun Of the war. BY the exer-
else of right. based upon might If on no
more pacific title. the Japanese inaugurated
their pnIftfraI Ind al 10 -
Corea with the landing of the first army
occupation at Chemulpo.
The small trader followed close upon the
heels of the soldier, and after him came
the banker and the shipping merchant.
until all Corea was in the hands of the
Japanese civil regime before the last Rus
sian had been driven across the Tumen.
Corea was all but dead. politically and
tndustrially. Agriculture was what 1t had
been for hundreds of years-a hand to
mouth scratching of the soil. Manufac-
ture means only the laborious ginning of
imported cotton by the foot press and the
cardlng and spinning of Chinese wool by
home machines.
Trade comprised the paltry exports of
ginseng from northern ports and the oc-
casional shipments of horns and hides to
China, and 1t was all in the hands of Chi
nese shippers. The total record of imports
and exports of all Corea for a year did
not equal that of New York City for a
month
The whole trade system was in a print
tive stage; It was man-to-man barter, with
copper cash paid down. With stock COM
panies, the movements of stock and the
rise and fall in values the Corean was ut
terly unfamiliar. Even the Chinese method
of banking and trust business was known
by Rim only imperfectly.
Change In Trade Customs
The Japanese, bringing to this benighted
land the ideas of modern industrialism
found a mental attitude toward their in
noyations to be expected from the Coreans
lack of business experience. Not only was
the white-robed trader CT the peninsula
content to continue on in the somnolent
bliss of old methods, but with all the en-.
ergy he could command, and that was lit.
tie. He resented the incursion of modern
forces of trade and finance, condemned
them because they were modern and from
a foreign source, and Stunned them be-
cause they were sponsored by the Japa.
nese.
Out Of this position assumed by the
Corean toward change as change and as
being something Japanese was developed
the keynote OF the whole attitude of thu
tude, expressed by every act of th'
japanese government and people in Corea
sums up thus:
Corea is Japans, but not Japan. Corei
shall be exploited for the benefit exclusivel!
of the japanese. The Coreans don't count
They may profit or lose by Jap2n's in
novations as circumstance or their owl
choice dictates, but as they are hopeless
no partnership In progress will be jone
with them. Corea. In short, is a secon
Hokkaldo where Japanese may emigTate
colonize and build their industries in
new land, but where the original folk O
the land, like the hairy Anus, may Shit
for themselves according to their ow
lights. Corea is to be rejuvenated, TO b
made to pay; but 1t is to pay the japanese
Japanese Population In COrea.
The Toxic Foreign office announced I
September last that there were in Core
at that time $4,000 japanese. II is SAT
to say that with every emigration compan
in Japan having contracts for labor an
with shiploads Of small traders, artisan
and adventurers clearing for Corea eac