The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
JAPAN TAKES HOLD AT SEOUL
COREAN EMPEROR PLOTTED MIR
DER or TIE CABI NET.
RiotoUs ThrODg Burned nremier's House
Order Restored by Japanese Troops
Plans of Reform Communicated Long
Ago 10 Sec. Taft and N President.

Ago 10 Soc. Taft and the President.
Special Cable Despa tches 10 The SUN.
SEOUL. July 90.-Ten Japanese were
killed and thirty wounded in yesterdays
riOting. Concentrated efforts were made at
? o'clock in the afternoon to murder the
entire Cabinet. A mob Of 1000 persons.
after listening to harsngues at the Temple
Of Heaven. marched to he homes Of the
Premier and other Ministers. which they
sacked and burned. At the War Minister'S
residence the Japanese guards were en-
countsred and they repulsed the mob.
killing and wounding many.
Another story OF the trouble states that
the rioters who were surrounding the
! Premier's residence were dispersed by the
Japanese police with the assistance Of ar
tillery. The Premier fed for refuge to the
palace and the other Ministers went To the
Jap residency.
II TO- alleged that the plot was reported
to Marquis Ito and that il was to this effect
that the Imperial Guard had been clan
destinely ordered by the ex-Emperor TO
enter the palace at midnight and murder the
whole Cabinet which was responsible for
his s%bdication. This is the official explana-
ton Of the fact that the Japs acted a. a
garrison for the palace.
The attending the accession
Of the Crown Prince were carried u at 10
A. NJ. In response 10 requests eighty
Japanese and other officials, including
Marquis Ito, with his military stan and
many Consuls- General. were received in
audience by the new Emperor at 40 this
afternoon.
TOXIC. July 20. Fears are entertained
hee lest the Emperor Of Corea. feeling too
keenly the disgrace Of his compulsory abdi-
cation. will commit suicide. Such an act
would not be extraordinary in a man Of his
race. for since the Russo-Japanese war a
number Of Corean officials have taken their
own lives.
Dispatches from Seoul say that the actual
process OF abdication was not completed
until this forenoon. The Corean Cabinet
has asked the Japanese to announce the. alb
dication to the Powers.
The new Emperor ia an idiot. His in
competence to rule has been in q large
measure the cause Of the great dissatisfsc-
ton among his subjects at tho change.
At the request OF the new Emperor one
company OF Japanese artillery has entered
the city and a battalion OF infantry 10
guarding the palace. Gen. Hasa gawa ia in
charge OF the capltaI.
The report that the Corean Cabinet has
resigned is unfounded. The present results
Of the change Of regime are a ~disappoint-
ment to Toxic. This is reflected in a decline
on the stock market.
The newspaper comment Indicates that
the abdication Of the Emperor forestalled
action by japan. which probably did not
aim at the removal Of the Emperor but at
the placing Of a Japanese Director in con-
troll Of the administration 50 far as the
new Emperor is concerned the Japanese
nave a weakling TO deal with. but there
| are men of power behind the a~nti-Japanese
movement in Corea and these have TO he
reckoned with.
Every one awaits with interest Prince
Ito's next move. Hitherto nothing has
been lone except TO adopt the Japanese
calendar for Corean uses and to make new
regulations for the household Of the former
Emperor. 1t is acknowledged here that
anything resembling annexation would be
p~recipitate now and would still further in
flame the Corean populace.
A despatch received here from Seoul
says that fou machine guns have been
placed on the Tarhsn gate for the purpose
Of repeIling any further attacks Of the
Coresn soldiery on the Japanese police
station.
WASHINGTON. July ~. - Ambassador
Wright at Toxic reported TO the State De-
partment the Official Information that the
Emperor OF Corea had abdicated in favor
Of the Crown Prince. He says that the
Emperor sought the advice Of Marquis Ito
regarding this action, hut that Marquis Ito
refused the same on the ground that it was
not within his province 10 give advice upon
such matters.
The purposes Of the Japanese Govern
ment with reference to Corea have been
known to the American Government Tor wo
years. JapanIs policy was explained at
length to Secretary Taft by the then Japan
ese Premier when Mr.. Taft visited Toxic
in the course Of his trip to the Philippines
in 1905. To MIR. Taft the Prime Minister
made known that radical reforms in Corean
governmental and social affairs we're con-
templated by Japan.
The Emperor Of Corea was weak and
superstitious. it was explained. and through
out the governmental system and anon
the people corruption. extreme supersti-
ton. low morals and general lack Of civilized
methods prevailed. The higher officers
81 the Government. II was asserted. prac-
tised voodooism and other unoanny rites.
and were guided by the revelations Of
horoscopes.
Corea, said the Premier. was a fostering
sore that should he cut out. The country
lay at Japan's door and it was the duty Of
Japan TO remedy the existing evils. This
his Government intended to do. the Premier
explained. II would reorganize the whole
political structure 81 Corea from bottom
10 top.
In the course Of he conversation between
the PREMIER nd Secretary Taft the sub!ccr
Of JaTsn's rttitude toward the American
acquisition Of he PHILIPPINES or me up. The
Premier told .hr. Taf, that japan welcomed
America n control OF the isla nds and I'll abe
desired YVES assurs noe thu q stable govern
ment would I've mointl med. thus oby iG ting
the likelihood Of ZONE foreign Power which
japan would moi I've happy TO Ina We as a near
neighbOr taking advantage OF disse nsion
to obtain control Of the Philippines,
Al the conclusion Of his interview Mr..
Tsh cablsd TO President Roosevelt a com
Ilate summary of what the Premier had