New-York tribune., 1919-07-16
Federal Council Advises
Americans to Lend Sun-
port to Japanese, Who
Aim to Right Wrongs
Hara Promises Reforms
Toxic Premier Declares Re.
organization of Affairs Is
To Be Made at Once

The following statement in part con.
cernlng the situation in Corea was
given out here to-day by the Commits
sion on Relations with the Orient of
the Federal Council of the Churches of
Christ in America, Of which commits
sion William 1. Haven Is chairman and
Sidney L. Gulick is secretary:
The reports Of atrocities against the
Corean population, and especially
against the native Christians, that
have been coming from Corea for sew
eral months are confirmed in abundant
detail by special report about to be
issued by the Commission on Relations
with the Orient of the Federal Council
OF the Churches Of Christ in America.
This report substantiates the charge
that the Japanese colonial system.
which has been forced upon the
Coreans, is thoroughly Prussian in its
military severity and it's treatment of
Corea, it is stated, the sword is the en-
blem of authority.
Hoped to Impress Paris
THE Coreans hoped by peaceful
demonstrations of passive resistance to
the conquerors to attract the attention
Of the peace conference at Paris to
their cause and to win from it the
same opportunity for self -determina-
tion which other small and oppressed
peoples have been led to expect under
President Wilson's famous fourteen n
points.
The invariable procedure of the So
called revolutionists was to assemble.
usually carrying the national colors
and shoutig 'Mansei' equivalent to
the Japanese 'Banzai' or to our 'Hur-
rah). In no case was anything more
violent attemted, nor were arms
borne by the revolutionists. In scores
of cases thse defenseless demonstrators
killed or wounded by hundreds.
Started War to Death
Because fifteen prominent Corean
Christians were among the thirty-three
signers Of the declaration of national
independence the Japanese made their
suppression of the movement the oc-
casion for relentless warfare against
Christianity in Corea. In certain viii
lagos all of the Christian men were
summoned to meet in the local
churches, where they were fired upon
by Japanese troops and the buildings
burned to the ground with all occu-
pants.
From March to April II 361
Coreans were known to have been
killed and So wounded.
hat the forbearing policy of the
Federal Councils commission has met
with an sappreciative response from the
Japanese government is evident from
the following cablegram, in part. Just
received from the Hon. Takashi Hara,
Premier of the Imperial Cabinet
1 desire to assure you that the re-
port of abuses committed by agents of
the Japanese government in Corea has
been engaging my most serious atten-
ton. comprehensive plan of re-
organization with this object in view
already has been on the tapis.
In view, however, of the recent i'm
provement' in the situation the con-
templated reform can now be, in my
estimation, safely introduced, and will
be carried into effect as soon as the
legal requirements of procedure to
make them effective are POSSIBLE '"
Urges American Support
The commission also makes public
part of a cablegram from Viscount
Uchida, Minister of Foreign Affairs in
ances of Premier Hara that the latter
is striving to remedy the Korean trou-
BILE. The message thanks the Amer-
cans for their cordial and friendly
/ spirit" calls attention to the gravity
of the whole affair if it is not handled
in proper way and asks for a contin-
uance Of their sane and moderate
attitude"
There is every reason to believe, "
say Chairman Haven and Mr.. Gulick
in conclusion, that Premier Hara and
his colleagues will exert their fullest
power to rectify wrongs and inaugurate
new era in Corea. Americans should
give the strongest possible moral sup
port to the progressive and anti-mil-
tarist movement in Japan. This we can
do not by wholesale condemnation of
the Japanese government and people
but by distinguishing between the re-
dictionary, autocratic forces that have
too largely dominated her policies and
leaders in the past and the new liberal
policies and leaders that are now COM
ing to the fore. Hope for Corea, and
indeed for China and the whole world,
hes in the overthrow of militarism in
Ion l.