Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-20
EMPEROR'S ED|CT
OF ABD|CAT|0N
TroubIous Times Determine Him
To Hand Affairs Of State Over
To Crown Prince.
WILD SCENES AROUND PALACE
Crowd of Five Thousand Driven from
The Gatcs--Japanese Press Ssmpa-
thixes, English Press Doesn't

Seoul, Korea, July 1e.--The abdication
edict Of the emperor is his t1'st COM
municatton to the world since the repu-
diution OF the convention OF 1905. A
translation OF the text Of the edict fol-
lows:
II have been. In Succession to my an
cestors, on the throne A years and
have met many disturbances. have
not reached my own desire. While
ministers are frequently improper men
and progress Ia not controlled by men,
the times are contrary 10 natures
events. A crisis extremely urgent In
the life OF the people has arisen ana
before imperiled.
II fear a danger like that that Details
person crossing the Ice. Fortunately
We have son endowed by nature with
virtue, brilliant and we'll worthy of be-
ing charged with plans for the develop
ment of the government to whom we
transfer our inheritance, sanctioned by
the custom OF ancient times.
Therefore, be II known that-as soon
as 1t is proper to be done, we viii hand
the affairs OF state over to the crown
prince as our representative"
Court usage is said to mako the
meaning OF the above an actual abdi-
cation,
While insufficient time has elapsed to
show the effect OF the emperors action
on the situation, advisory opinion at
the Japanese residency general regards
the abdication as taking away the force
OF Japan's intended blow.
BEFORE PALACE GATES.
Seoul, July ia crowd OF 5000 Kor-
cans has been beaten back from the
palace gates. During tho audience with
the cabinet last night. when the en-
peror acquiesced TO the demand for b.
dichtion, a number OF students attempts
ed to present petition to the emperor,
but the police prevented them from do
ing so, driving them back east of the
palace, where they remained all night.
making speeches. At midnight Chief
OF Police Maruyama distributed car
bines to the palace police, but the crowd
continued to Increase, but remained
orderly The elaborate ceremony of
transferring the imperial seal to the
crown prince is in progress this fore
noon. Some shops are Closed because
of the sympathy OF their pruprietors
with the emperor, and the streets
pie. The Japanese papers have pub
iished soine sensational renrors, but
there IL no indication of a revolt Tho
Korean Official Gazette Is now circulat-
ing on the street. the first official an
nouncement of the abdication, which
was signed by the emperor and seven
minister's In favor of the crown prince
AZ the Japanese residency, Marquis
Ito and Viscount Hayashi. in an answer
TO an inquiry of the correspondent of
the Associafed Press regarding the ef-
Iect OF the emperor's action, it's inn
portance in effecting a settlement of
The whole Japanese Korean situation
and whether or not 1t was In accord
ance with the plans of Japan, said they
We're not prepared at present to make II
statement
Marquis Ito, however. desired 1t to be
emphatically stated that both before
ana during his audience yesterday.
when the emperor and cs4binet We're
Weighing the question OF nbdicatlon he
refused any participation. The emperor
repeated his declaration that he was
not responsible for the sending of the
Aorean delegation to The Hague and
asked Marquis lto's opinion Of the cabl-
nets resignation regarding abdication.
MARQUIS Ito replied that the matter
Wholiy concerned the eriSeror of Korea
and not himself as the representation or
the empire OF Japan. Furthermore
Marquis Ito declares. thS cabinot's
Wnois course or action was based on
Its own initiative.
Nine a. m.-The city became uniet MT
nlghtfall and Is now under military con-
troi.
A heavy rain following the outbreak
OF today was largely instrumental In
dispensing the crowds. All traffic has
oeen stopped and the Japanese shops
are guarded. The police report that
70 Japanese were killed and wounded
III the days rioting. The casualties
among the Koreans are unknown.
An official report ascribes the
shooting today to Korean soldiers, who
could not be controlled by their officers.
The noise Of the firing and the news
tnat casualties had resulted greatly al
armed the emperor. who at o'clock
tonight sent by the minister OF Justice
long, apologetic message to MARQUIS
Ito TO the effect that he regretted nm
Ignorant subjects had caused violent
connection. He therefore relied upon
Marquis Ito 10 take measures neces-
sai'y to prevent further trouble.
After tho emeute MARQUIS Ito called
upon Gen. Hasegawa to take military
charge Of the city. Japanese troops
have been offered for the safeguarding
OF foreign consulates in Seoul.
JAPANESE PRESS sYMPATHIzEs
Toxic. July 2O--The Japanese press Is
THIS morning generally Bypmathetic
with the retired Korean emperor as an
individual, but none, however, regreta
the act OF abdication.
In the absence OF the Official text Il ia
commented that there is doubt whether
the abdication means complete nom
interference with the government by
the emperor. Suggestion Is made that
there is necessity OF clearly defining the
position OF the retired emperor In
order TO prevent even an Indirect med
ding with the administration.
IL ~ also pointed out that anyhow the
change OF government was caused nv
the Initiation OF the Korean govern.
ment, IN which Japan had no concern
Whatever and that II cannot be con-
sidered Anal solution OF The Hague
Incident.
II is expected that Foreign Minister
Hayashi VIII effect definite airanae-
inent with the Korean government re-
garding that question. kilograms from
Seoul dated midnight last night say
that general calm prevails, Japanos
troops have been called ont and a bat
talon Is guarding the palace
NO ENGLISH SYMPATHY.
London, July 2.--Scarcely word OF
sympathy Is uttered by the morning pa
PEERS for the deposed emperor OF Korea.
who Is regarded as having brought his
fate upon himself by futile Intriguing
against the Japanese and, as the Daily