The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-18
Demand Is Made By Premier
 of the Government
END 0F ANCIENT EMPIRE
Closer Control Over This Country is to be Exercised by Japan and Means Complete Domination
 by Japanese Government.

Seoul, Korea, July 17.-Following cab met meeting yesterday which lasted four hours, the premier had an audience with the Emperor in the evening continuing for three hours. It has transpired that the premier made a strongly worded rep resentation of the gravity of the situa- tion caused by his majestys sending a delegation to The Hague He boldly point ed out the necessity for the Emperor's S solicitation in favor of the crown prince, and his proceeding to TolSio and apologIz. ing to the Emperor of Japan. The Korean Emperor made no definite re1,y.
 On retiring from the palace the premier immediately called another meeting which lasted until o'clock this morning. The cabinet is determined to definitely decide on Korea's attitude today or by the time of the arrival of Viscount Hayashi. Japa- nese foreign minister. It is believed that the ministers will insist on the abdication of the Emperor at all risk
 The Il Ching Hoi Progressive assocla- tion, which Is supporting the present cab met, has officially applied to Marquis Ito to help save Korea from the grave con e'iutlA1So Ol liit iLlup6TO dGllOn against Japan.
 It Is reported that the Emperor has withdrawn 100000 yen deposited in the Bank of Shanghai. il is not likely that the Emperor will yield to the demand for his abdication without a struggle
 Despite the perturbed feeling and ex- citement of coure and cabinet, the popu- lace generally is calm. Even the anti Japanese association has issued a mani Co, ~s.... .,-sA. Ct prudent attitude at this critical stage of the situation. The Emperor in the opin- ion of close observers, has alienated popu- lar affection.
 End of Old Empire.
 The request made by the premier of Korea that the Emperor adbicate appdr- ently Is the beginning of the end of this ancient empire, and the inauguration of q closer control by Japan than that she has exercised since the treaty of Portsmouth, recognized her predominant influence in the hermit kingdom as one of the fruits of her victory over Russia For long period Korea was under the control of China, but in 1894-95 Japan drove China out of the penlnsular and Korea enjoyed a brief period of inde pendence. In 1904 Japan stepped into Ko- rean affairs with assurance of safety, in dependence and friendship but since then Japanese influence has grown in extent and power until finally today Korea faces in the abdication of the present Emperor the final extinction of her claims to recos- milton as an Independent state for the in- stallation of a nominal Emperor selected by the statesmen of Japan, seems to in- dicate that Korea Is to come wholly and entirely under the sway of the Japanese This crisis in Korean affairs does not cttrDrfca For QpVaral days Dagt the situation in the peninsula has pointed to just such an outcome, and the sending of q depu utation to the peace conference at The Hague to protest against Japan s attitude toward Korea weakened the ko- rean throne more than anything that has occurred since the assassination of the Queen Viscount Hayash the Japanese foreign minister, left Tokio a few days ago for Seoul to untangle the knot caused by this latest Korean intrigue, and there Is reason to believe that his visit would bring about a radical change In the situa- ton.
 Emperor Is III.
 The Emperor recently has been described in news dispatches as greatly depressed and ill He is said to be living in a small building quite apart from his court and to have virtually withdrawn from all in- tercourse with the high officials of the empire. He is quite unaware of the pre- dieament into which his country has been plunged.
 Of aspirants to the Korean throne there are four The crown prince Is regarded as incompetent. Prince Pax Yum Ho, who is supposed to be supported by Marquis Ito. and who recently has been brought back from exile, Is pro-Japanese, as is Prince Vie Chung Ong, another exile, who has been awaiting developments at Fusan since July 14 Prince Eva, another can didate. Is also considered to be a protege of the Japanese.
 The Emperor of Korea was 56 years old fin September of last year. He was called to the throne in 1864, when he was 13. He was married at the age of 15 to the Prin- cess Min, woman of as noble Korean birth as her husband. It was she who was assassinated. The son of the union is the crown prince.
 An Absolute Monarchy.
 Toklo, July 17.-Although Korea is un- ~~~~~~~-~-~~~~~~~~~->