Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-27

] HfAN ks4t Japan ltAlGll0S " ultilildlAl Tic
lssSAsdassl so-called open door" prin-
ciple of equal opportunity for
all nations in commerce and industrial
enterprise in the hermit kingdom. For
some time before the resignation of
/ Prince Ito a section of the Japanese
press had been urging the annexation
! of Korea and the abolition of rights of
xtra-territoriality. This agitation is a
concomitant of the movement in Japan
to eliminate the foreign merchant from
| the country, and is part and parcel With
! the objection OF the Japanese to eX-
tending the right of ownership of land
| in Japan to foreigners.
/ While Korea is technically separate
/ from the japanese empire it's separate
ness is regarded humorously by the
! Japanese and its ultimate annexation
is regarded as a certainty For some
| time prior to Prince Ito's withdrawal
foreigners in this country had been
mooting the question of whether the
Toxic authorities were sincere in pro
| claiming the "open door" policy. The
| question that now arises is whether the
| door will be locked and barred under
Viscount Some. Whether or not there
is a probability that it would remain
open in the event of annexation is an
| other question, and one which may De
considered in connection with the pres,
ent attitude of the Japanese toward
| foreigners in Japan.
There has been practically no out
side interference with the projects OF
Japan in Korea since the Russian war.
As a result of free hand having been
allowed her by the powers in the Varl,
Gus steps taken to destroy the natlohal
existence of this country there eXists .5s
in the minds of many Japanese an ldea
that in the military prowess or japan
lies the explanation of why the powers
have acuuiesced in every move MADE
by the imperial government in lSorea;
When Prince Ito came to Seoul IN the
capacity of resident general he came
clothed with authority from the mikado
as autocrat of Korea. The military
was subordinate to him. He soon made
it apparent that he did not propose 10
delegae his authority. He outlined
conciliatory policy with view 10 MI
nroving abroad the reputation of Japan
in Korea, and in the hope OF pacllyihS
the Koreans a feature of ms pohcy
was 10 give other nations chance IN
Korea This was in opposition to the
sentiment of many younger ana Smaller
men. Ii. ..ryor;-
san case" which was recently settled
favorably to American interests, Prince
Ito, although he did no more thaL
simple Justice, ard tardy Justlce aI
that brought about his ears the CEN
service and of the military arm or the
Japanese government in the peninsula
BEFORE the beginning of the Japanese
occupation the Keorean government
granted to an American hrm, lous
nroninent and successful IN Korea an
important mining, concession Inc sUE- 5T,
ernment was to receive a royalty Inc
concession was regular in every way;
and the transaction was duly recorueu
AT the American legation.
When the Japanese army occupied
Korea army regulations prevented tne
American firm from locating It's clallll.
When the war with Russia was over
and the feeling that Japan oWheu
Korea filled the minds of the Japanese,
fhe authorities at Seoul declined to al
low a representative of the American
company to go into the interior TO put
the concession into effect, but an Am
erican disguised as a Korean eluded
the authorities, located the claim ana
recorded it with the American legation:
By the time the final confirmation OF
the location of the claim was up to the
Korean government, in the course OF
routine business, that government had
become a farce Japan was in COM
plete control and the emperor was as
much a prisoner as he has been since
that time and as his son is today. The
Americans were dumfounded When
they were informed Dy tlle JdPeliIS9N
government-in the guise of the Kor-
can government, the farce of 'inde-
pendence" existing as it does at pres
ent, but the functions of government
being discharged by Japanese alone
that they could not hold their conces-
sion because Japanese had already To-
Gated the claim.
From that time until the end of the
ensuing fight the "Kapisan Case" was
a matter of dinner table debate in
every American and European home in
Korea. 1t was regarded as one of the
major manifestations of the intent of
Japan to allow the proclaimed open
door policy to follow the often guar
anteed independence of Korea into the
limbo of things that were. When 1t
failed at Seoul the fight of the Ameri-
can firm was taken to Toxic and
Washington How the fight was made
in Washington may be judged from
the fact that hints were dropped in
official quarters there that the Ameri-
can government would do we'll to drop
the affairs of the American "adventur-
ers" in Seoul, as one member of the
firm had been kicked out of Jamiaca
by the British government for crooked
dealings. The gentleman referred to
built the first railroad in Korea, had