Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-27

]
Denver and had never seen the shores
of Jamiaca. 1t was also limited that
| the royal seals had been stolen and af-
fixed to the concession. Such ''revela-
tions' as these were made informally,
and for a time the American firm
could not understand why it's claim
failed to get the vigorous home support
it merited. The firm was also charged
with having bluffed the emperor into
signing the concession when war was
imminent, and he desired the friendship
of America. With bulldog tenacity the
American firm held on while expenses
stacked up to a height that made the
ultimate financial results doubtful even
in the event of victory. In financing
the proposed development the Ameri-
cans had sold to a British company an
interest in the plant when developed
The Japanese authorities made the
point that this constituted a transfer
to other nationals, and urged that
Washington had therefore no legiti-
mate interest in the outcome
The "Kapisan Case" became a scan
dal in Korea, and it expanded to such
an extent that it was discussed in the
smoking rooms of steamers throught-
out the orient, in the clubs of foreign
settlements in China and in the Straits
Settlements, and hotly in the press.
Other nationals than Americans in
the case settled, regarding it as an in
dication of what might be expected
with regard to the "open door" in the
future. It was after the fight seemed
a hopeless one that the present Am
erican consul general at Seoul sue
ceeded in convincing Prince Ito of the
injustice and unwisdom of the position
of Eis government in the matter, and
the case was finally disposed of. The
Americans are left in charge of their
property. Something like 100000 was
laid down in making the contest. Here,
then, was a peculiar "open door" 1t
required the expenditure of brain and
Drawn and good hard cash to keep it
sufficiently open to admit the passage
of an honest enterprise with a perfect
ly valid claim.
That Prince Ito recognized the val
idity of the American claim in the
"Kapisan case" individually long be
fore he did so officially and that he
earnestly desired, as a matter of jus
tice and a matter of policy, to settle it
fairly is agreed by every one in Seoul
who has observed developments The
difficulty under which the resident gen
eral labored was not any confusion as
to the facts in the case, but the opposi-
ton of the military party which stood
pat against giving the Americans Il
square deal The military play, it may
be said in passing, includes not only
military men, but also civilians who
favor the policy of cut and thrust in
Korea as a means of 'pacifying" the
Koreans and of advancing the COM
mercial interests of Japan So heated
had grown tht controversy within the
headquarters of the resident general
that a subordinate resigned his office
when the claim was settled. Prince
Ito made him sign the necessary docu-
ments, however, before accepting mis-
resignation.
The Kapisan case affords an illus
tration of the policy of obstruction
which has been followed in many in
stances since the affairs of Korea have
been administered by Japan. The re-
suit of this policy has been to arouse
speculation as to what developments
it would reach if Japan should
eventually annex Korea and abolish
the right of extra territoriality, as has
been done in Japan proper. Had the
American claimants-or rather owners
of the Kapisan prospect lost i'll their
tussle with the Toxic government for
eigners would have regarded the out
come as a broad hint that other ma
tionals than Japanese would in the
future have such rough sl9dding in
Korean enterprises that the wiser
course would be to eXpend effort and
invest money elsewhere. The favorable
decision at last reached did much to
encourage foreigners as to the future,
but much will depend upon the in
tentions and the ability of the new
resident general. Prince Ito was, in
fact as we'll as upon paper, the head of
the administration in Seoul. A man of
less force might have been Influenced
to sWerve from the course he manned
out A statesman of smaller caliber
would have hesitated to begin his
work along such line.
Although Prince Ito accomplished
great deal in the right direction dur
ing his service as resident general
among other things he secured the en-
actment of equitable mining laws--he
had only commenced the work he
deemed necessary when he Withdrew.
Should Viscount Some fail to measure
up to the dimensions of his disttn-
guished predecessor the situation
which was clearing up during the last
months of Prince Ito's rule might again
become muddled. Not until the Some
administration has demonstrated its
objects and its strength, or the Lack OF
it, will it be known whether the door
is to be kept ajar in Korea so long as
this country is not technically part
of Japan.
Tomorrow-The Fate of Korea-X: Forces
of Modern Progress.