New-York tribune., 1907-07-19
TO ABDICATE TODAY.
CORE4N EMPEROR YIELDS.
Decision after Night Conference
Cabinet RESIGNED First.

1uOtfNL LtotS, HtN hots
Toxic, July ia dispatch from Seoul says
that the Emperor convened the Elder Statesmen
at o'clock this morning. The Cabinet Min
listers waited in adjoining room while the
Emperor conferred with the Elder Statesmen.
After a two-hours' conference his majesty finally
yielded and made up his mind to abdicate
1t was decided to hold the abdication cere-
mOny at 10 o'clock this morning.
Much unrest prevails about the palace and
at another place a crowd of 1000 is assembled.
A portion of this crowd assaulted the office o'
the daily "Kokun1n" but the mob was dispersed
before heavy damage was inflicted
The audience OF Marquis Ito with the Emperor
lasted one hour 1t is reported that the En-
peror impored the marquis to help Corea
from her present complication in a
satisfactory TO the Japanese and without doing
anything derogatory to the Corean court. Mar
quis Ito 1t is said. carefully avoided making any
definite reply and retired without committing
himself.
Count Hayashi Japanese foreign minister. ar
rived at Seoul late last night receiving a hearty
welcome. He drove Immediately to Marquis
Ito's residence
A number Of Coreans, calling themselves elder
statesmen of Corea, have sent long letter to
Marquis Ito. intimattng that the Japanese would
receive their support in fair dealing toward the
Emperor, but. failing that, they would die a
martyrs death and that the whole nation would
do likewise
They denied that the court implicated III
the sending of the delegation to The Hague 1t
Is believed that the Cabinet ministers again pro-
ceeded TO the palace last night for the purpose OF
further urging the Emperor to abdicate.
The abdication will probably be followed by
the calling OF a convention, which, while
keeping Coreas national existence intact, VIII
limit the sovereign power IN some form whereby
the ruler can exercise his powers only with the
consent and approval Of the japanese resident
here. The present ministers in Seoul are actu-
ated by true patriotism, and are determined
place the Corean government upon a firm basis
and free from court intrigues and selfish plots.
Seoul July IS. via TokIo-Marquis Ito visited
the Emperor at $50 o'clock this afternoon In
response to the Emperors request. After two
weeks obstinate seclusion and silence the En-
peror late yesterday sent court officers TO Mar
quis Ito with message that, inasmuch as both
were worried over the presence Of the Corean
deputation at The Hague. he begged the resident
general TO come TO the palace.
The Marquis Ito's first reply. sent this morn
ing, asked for an audience two three days
hence. after the arrival Of Foreign Minister
Hayashi from Toxic. The Emperor replied that
ne would wait all to-day for Marquis Ito's com
Ing.
At the resdency general an authoritative
statement Of the Cabinets action last night was
given out to-day. 1t stated that the Cabinet
recommended that the Emperor retire and leave
the throne to the Crown Prince. The Emperor
did not reply then. but convened the Cabinet for
this afternoon. Marquis Ito says that the Cab
met acted on It's Initiative and without
knowledge of Japan's plans desires
At the afternoon audience the Cabinet re-
Tt 10
ceedingly angry at them for advising him to
sbdcate. He said TO them that he occupied his
throne by inherited right from his ancestors and
that his subjects had no authority TO advise his
dethrouenent, much less to do so with the sup
port Of foreigners
The Emperors loss Of the loyal adherence OF
a large part Of his subjects Will. It IS believed
result In the gradual development Of his policy
TO play one minister or faction against another
so as to prevent the concentration OF power In
any single body. The result Of this IS that no
one Will faithfully support him al the risk Of
life. The Emperor himself is constantly dis
Tustful OF all about him and Is haunted with
the fear OF attempt upon his life
The Il Ching Hoi. a progressive association
claiming membership OF more than one million
Is now openly hostile to him, and 1t is doubtful
whether the few now standing by him viii con-
tinue their support until the last. A sufficient
inducement Is likely TO make them desert the
Emperor, who is now in the most pitiable pre-
dicement. Placards posted to-day In one
OF the thOroughrares calling for the death OF all
japanese officials in Seoul The minister's are
strongly guarded
The Hague. July 1s-The ex-PremIer Of Corea.
" Sang Sui. believes that the resignation Of the
Corean Ministry was due 10 the influence of
Marquis Ito, resident general. and Viscount
Hayashi, the japanese Foreign Minister who
desired TO compel the Corean Emperor to abdi-
cate or go TO Toxic and make act OF sub
mission to the Japanese Emperor