The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-26

ance, their lives were spared, but this
was doubtless owing to the remarkably
effective protective measures adopted to
safeguard their persons. It remained
after he had concluded his work in
Korea and apparently had returned to
ways Of peace and safety
Stevens had been granted liberal
pension by the Japanese government
and had returned to America to rejoin
his family, only to fall before the bullet
OF vengeful Korean. just as he crossed
the portals of his own land. So, Ito,
after winding up his career in Korea
and having devoted the remainder of
pursuit of ease. was shot down IN Man
churia by a Korean when it was sup
posed he was no longer an object of
their resentment.
May Change the Situation.
A very probable result of this last
assassination will be an indefinite
postponement of the negotiations re-
garding the railroad conditions in
Manchuria, which have SO actively
engaged the foreign offices of the
great powers for the last two months,
or rather, to be exact since August 81,
the date of the signature of the treaty
between Japan and China, which
practically clothed the latter country
with authority to dictate the future
construction of railroads in southern
AdnCnuTlds
When these negotiations are re-
sumed, after reasonable period of
mourning, it may be that the Japan
csc government will find itself in a
position to come into closer accord
with the understanding of the powers
and especially of America, regarding
the exact meaning to be given to that
part of the treaty of Portsmouth,
which declared against the cultivation
of any special interests by either Jap
an or Russia in Manchuria.
There is said to be striking resem-
blance between Japans claims to SUI
per1or influence in southern Man
churia and those of Russia to DOM
inant position in northern Manchuria
and this community of interest might
have had important results had the
meeting between Prince Ito and Min
lister of Finance Kokevsoff not been
prevented by the assassin's bullets.
Acting Secretary of State Hunting
ton wilson, upon reaching the depart
ment this morning issued a statement
ing read a dispatch from American
Charge d'Affairs Fletcher at Pekin
advising that he had received from
the consul at Hardin, report of the
assassination Of the prince. A short
time previously Ambassador O'Brien
at Toxic had sent the department
brief announcement Of the shooting
Wilson's Statement.
The statement was as follows:
1.-The news of the ASA ssination Of
Prince Ito is great shock. He had
lately relinquished his onerous duties
as resident general in Korea, a post
of the greatest difficulty, which he
had filled with masterful skill in spite
of his advanced years, with a tact and
fairness to foreign interests which
had made his regime appreciated by
the foreign missions and business in
terests in Korea, among which Amer
leans predominant above all others
excepting The Japanese.
ITO describe the career of Prince Ito
from the time when he left Japan as
boy, for England sailing before the
mast, to the time when he retired from
his recent post in Korea would be to re-
count the whole history of modern
Japan.
His career throughout has been
marked by a breadth of view and a
frankness of expression which make
him justly regarded as one of the great
est statesmen of the world s.. -, -.
Mr. Wilson had a close personal
friendship with Prince Ito, and in speak
ing of him today said that one in con-
versing with the prince felt very strong
ly the world breadth of his point of view
and his constant realization that the
great interests of the west in the far
east evidently made the policies and
opinions of western countries an i'm
portant factor in the profound study
of problems in that part of the world.