Evening star., 1919-12-28
Japan ANNOUNCES
/ KOREAN REFORMS
FIogging to Be Abolished and
Freedom of Speech and
Press Restored.
BY ERNEST W. CLEMENT.
Special Correspondence OF The Star
and the Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1919. }

TOXIC. Japan. December lin Au-
gust. when changes were made in the
administration of Korea. | cabled the
following: Although satisfaction is
felt at the fundamental Improvement
in the administration of Korea. yet
great disappointment is manifested al
the failure to appoint civilian gov
ernor general. The Mainichi Shmbun
declares that the Koreans asked for
bread and received stone That
was true at the time; but ii now ap-
pears that the Koreans Jared better
than was thought then. Although it
is true .hat the new governor general.
Admiral Baron Saito. was not a ci-
william officially. yet he has proved to
be a civilian in his general attitude.
And although DIR. Mizuno who was
appointed director of civil affairs in
the Korean administration. was nom
mated a bureaucrat, he has shown
himself to be very much less bureau
cratic than might have been expected.
II seems now that the Koreans loss
was only in the shadow of the name
and their gain was in the substance
OF the real acts and deeds
Real Reforms Begun.
The fact of a real change in the
attitude of Japan toward Korea. as
it appeared in the reform measures
instituted by the new administration
has been evident from the beginning
of the administration. The attempt
al assassination had not the slightest
influence in holding the new COVER
plans for real reform. Although the
reality of the reforms has been
blurred by the continued misguided
acts of subordinate officials espe-
Cially in the way of tortureS. such
mistakes should not Blind one to the
real purpose of the Japanese govern
ment
The detailed plans have lately been
0r ar cot
ing of Christian missionaries and
educators and of Japanese Christian
workers.
Dr. Mizuno said: The administra-
tive policy is now based on the re-
script granted by the emperor, in
which his majesty announced his de-
sire that in all respects his japanese
and Korean subjects should be placed
on footing of equality.
Korean officials should hereafter be
paid the same scale of salary as their
Japanese colleagues. Ways were also
opened for Koreans of talent and
ability to be raised to posts of re-
sponsibility and honor in the govern
mon schools for Korean children.
hitherto exclusively given to Japanese.
was given to Koreans, too.
Hear Opinions of Koreans.
We earnestly desire TO hear the
opinions of the Korean people. learn
VI lttii dic dSplIa
and would shape our policy SO as to
satisfy their reasonable desires. With
this in view. soon after our arrival
at our posts. the governor general
caused hfty-two representative ko-
reanS. four from each of the thirteen
provinces constituting this country,
to come to Seoul for conference
and, besides explaining to them the
program of the new regime, had the
satisfaction of hearing their opinions
and views
1T is also my intention shortly to
grant the people freedom of speech
and press. Several applications ask
ing for official permission to start
new Korean and Japanese news
papers will shortly be granted.
The governor general has also
made arrangements for giving special
liberal allowances to Japanese Of
ficials mastering the Korean Ian
guage. so that they may directly
hear what the Korean people think.
But all these are preliminaries to the
realization of plan which we cher
ish-i- e.. to grant the Korean people
the administration of local affairs at
some opportune time in the future.
Among the old institutions which
1t is intended shortly to abolish is
the method of punishment by fog
ging.
Improving Hospital Condition.
The government has established
anu DldlHS III seoul a great cell
trail hospital. 1t also maintains nine
teen charity hospitals in the prov
inces, besides stationinS more than
100 public doctors at different centers
throughout the peninsula. In these
hospitals Korean patients of poorer
means are treated free
Besides three colleges and several
higher schools for boys and two high
er schools for girls, the government
has already established common
schools. The government is now de-
liberating plans for lengthening the
school course for Korean children, in
creasing the number of schools and
establishing new organs for higher
education, as well as for the improve
ment of those already existing.
Reform in Police System,
Finally, in regard to the reform of
the police system, it may be explained
that it has been made both in method
and in spirit.
All the military officers hitherto in
charge of police affairs have been re-
heved of their duty and replaced by
civil officials