New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-06
CRUELT|ES IN COREA
Japanese Ambassador Writes to
Presbyterian Mission Board.
STATEMENT, BOARDS REPLY
Governor Generals Denial That
Christians Are Mistreated
Is Quoted in Letter.

The Presbyterian Board OF Foreign Mis-
| sions received letter yesterday from the
Imperial Japanese Ambassador To the
United States, Niscount Chinda. refusing
10 make "a full and formal reply on the
Corean missionary question. The board
then issued statement showing that dur
ing the last six months II had made inpas-
stoned appeals to tho Japanese government
protesting against the arrest Of CoreaE
Christians on, as the board asserted.
"trumped up charges" that they conspired
against the life of Count Terauchi. the
Governor General. at Seoul. Corea. II was
also said the prisoners were tortured
Missionaries Of the board in Corea assert
that "the japanese. although their code
forbids any treatment Of prisoners which
breaks the skin, have devised eXquisitely
painful methods Of breaking the viii OF
prisoners which leave no bodily marks
one Of their methods. IT ia said is hang
ing the prisoner NJ by the chin until his
toes barely touch the ground"
Several appeals by the missionaries In
Coroa to Count Terauchi brought reply
making general denial of torture and an
affirmation Of the guilt Of the accused.
Altogether, It was alleged, about six
thousand persons, practically all Chris
tians, have been arrested under this charge
II conspiracy To murder Count JerauchL
and the japanese are said TO have put
forth the extravagant claim that ten thou
sand in all, which is practically the entire
Christian church of Corea, are implicated
in the plot"
on February N, 1912. tho Imperial Jap,
anese Embassy I'm Washington transmitted
to the board a memorandum from Count
Terauchi, which said:
The principle that politics and religion
should in no wise be mixed up, but always
kept separate from each other. has b"en
Invariably maintained, not only by my
self but also by my predecessors The
object OF both is TO promote the welfare
Of tie PEOPLE in COrea, but each has
different way from the ether and must not
go across.
am therefore much pleased to hear your
assurance that the Christian church as
whole. adhering to this principle, mas
steadily and continuously counselled sub
mission to the new government, and turth-
or assurance that violation OF law sedtion
or any form Of criminality, either within
or without the Church. cannot be condoned
by YOU on the contrary. you stand ready
TO support the authorities In inhicung due
punishment II any member OF the Church
or any Church officer Is shown by fair
trial TO be guilty OF such conduct.
You say that the rllmor Is current that
the government believes that the Chris
tlan Church is hOneycombed by sedition:
II is unnecessary 20 contradict such abb
surd rlImor, which has not even the slight
est foundation. II IS not WHOLLY unreason-
able. however, for ignorant or III Informed
Coreans to conclude that because arrests
have been made Of the members of the
Christian Church or schools the authorities
had a suspicion Of the Church.
Put as a matter OF fact. that such ar
rests had no concern whatever TO the
Church itself or any religious belief Of
the persons so arrested would be easily UNI
derstood by men OF even ordinary intelli-
gence.
In the letter received from Ambassador
Chnda yesterday by the Board OF Foreign
Missions the ambassador said:
In View Of the fact that the statements
made therein by the Governor General cover
TO a great extent the ground contained in
your Communication above alluded TO, IL Is
needless for me to say that, from the very
nature OF the case the japanese govern
ment or any other government would not
certainly feel disposed to, or even II dis
posed. enabled to, give formal and fIll
reply respecting a criminal case involving
grave political offence and pending before
the competent judicial authorities.