The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-07-20
THE FATE OF KOREA
IN THE HANDS
OF JAPS
Emperor Abdicates In Favor OF
Crown Prince
MARQUIS BLAMES VI HUNG
Presence OF the Mikado's Premier
Shows Which Way the Wind
Blows nj Seoul.

SEOUL, July 20-The emperor OF
Korea. who nbdlcated his throne. II.
succeeded. by the crown prince.
Twenty-Five Japanese have been kill
cd aud wounded In street rioting here,
aud Marquis Ito has called on General
Hasegawa 10 take military charge OF
the city.
japanese troops have been offered for
the safeguarding Of foreign consulates
Ia Seoul.
Enraged crowds ARE assembled nj
various points throughout the city. and
infammRtory documents against the
japanese are being freely distributed.
giving rise 90 n forlorn hope that some
active opposition Is about 10 begin
Marquis Ito Is not likely. Il l.
thought. 10 resort 10 extreme measures
~ repression until all mild means Of
pacincation have been exhausted.
Extraordinary police precautions ARE
being taken throughout the city.
Upon his arrival Viscount Hayashi
the foreign minister of japan. was
greeted by 1900 japanese, who are eN
pectlng the immediate annexation Of
Korea.
Tue emperor convened the elder
statesmen aud after comforting with
them FOR two hours finally yielded and
decided 90 nbdicatc. Thce IN much
unrest IN the vicinity ~ the palace
where a crowd o. 5000 Koreans have
hesn beaten back from the palac"
gates. During the audience with the
cabinet when the emperor acqulc-ccd
10 the demand Tor ahdication n nun
her Of students attempted 90 present n
petition 90 the emperor. but the police
prevented them from doing ~. driving
them back east " the palace. where
they remained all night. making
speeches. chief ~ Police Maruyama
distributed cnrblucs 60 the palace ~
ice. but the crowd continued o. IN
crease. II remained orderly.
The elaborate ceremony u transfer.
ring ili- imperial seal % the crown
prince Il IN progress Some shops are
closcd because Of the sympathy "
their pruprictor with the emperor.
aud the streets Around the palace are
hllsd with pcoplr The Japanese pa.
sor have published some sensational
rumurs. bot there l. NO Indication % q
revolt The Korean official gazette Il
now circulating on the street the frst
oaicinl announcement ~ the aldica
ilun which was signed BY the emperor
aud foreign ministers la favor of the
crown prince.
AZ the Japanese rcsidency Marquis
Ito aud Niscouut lIayashl In an an.
swer 20 an inquiry % a reporter ~
gardlng the effect 81 the empcrors ac.
ton. ~ importance In erectlns y st.
ilcmeni 81 the whole Japanese Korean
situation aud whether OF not II was In
accordance with the plans Of japan
said they were not prepared NJ the
present time 10 make q statement
Marquis Ito however. desired II o.
h. emphaticnlly stated that both h.
fore aud during his audience when the
emperor and cabinet were weighing
the question ~ abdlcaiion he refused
any participation The emperor re-
praird his declaration that be- was not
responsible for the sending u the Ko
ran delegation 90 The Hague and
asked Marquis lto's opinion % the
cabinets representation regarding ab.
dicatiun.
Marquis Ito replied that the matter
.wholly conc.rnSd the emperor 81 Ko
rca and not himself NJ the represents.
tive 81 the empire ~ japan. Further
more Marquis Ito declares the cabI
nets whole course ~ action was based
on it, own initiative.