Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-16

NEW 1ORhs july lo.-A statement
concerning the situation in Korea
has been given out here by the COM
mission on relations with the orient
of the federal council of the Churches
of Christ in America, Of which COM
mission William l. Haven is chair
man and Sidney L. Gulick is secre-
tary.
Fight for Independence.
The statement says, in part:
1.-The recent movement for independ-
ence was started by educated Kore-
ans anxious to save the people of their
country from national extinction and
for the recovery of many of the ele-
mental rights of justice. such as the
use of their own language, freedom
OF the press, of speech and assembly,
which have been denied them by
Japan.
From March / to April II, 361
Koreans were known to have been
killed and $50 wounded. The indig-
mites to a few foreign missionaries
and especially the arrest and i'm
prisonment of the Rev. Eli NJ Mowry.
are already well known in America.
The latest reports are to the erect
that the arrest and torture Of sus-
pected persons by the police were
continuing and that a reign OF terror
prevailed.
Premier Promises Betterment.
That the forbearing policy of the
federal councils commission has met
with an appreciative response from
the Japanese government is evident
received from the Honorable Takashi
Hara, premier of the imperial cabinet:
II desire to assure you that the
report of abuse committed by agents
of the Japanese government IN Korea
has been engaging my most serious
attention. ! am fully prepared to look
squarely at actual facts. AS L nave
declared on various occasions, the
in Korea at the time of annexation.
nearly ten years ago calls for sub
stantial modification to meet the al
tered conditions of things. A compre-
this object in view has already been
on the taplS.
lin view. however, of the recent
Improvement in the situation, the
my estimation, safely introduced. and
will be carried into effect as soon as
the legal requirements of procedure
to make them definitive shall have
been completed
"The commission on relations with
the orient has sought, in the months
that it has been studying the situa-
ton, by the fundamentally of friend
ly methods and conferences with Of
ficials and other prominent Japanese
in America, to exert influences that
might secure constructive and per-
manent relief for the Koreans"
Confirms Assurances.
The commission also makes public
part of cablegram from Eiscount
Uchida, minister of foreign affairs.
in Toxic, wherein he confirms the as
latter is striving to remedy the
Korean trouble. The message thanks
the Americans for their cordial and
friendly spirit" and asks for a con-
tinuance 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 Korea.
Americans should give the strongest
possible moral support to the pro-
gressive and anti-militarist move
ments in Japan. This we can do not
by wholesale condemnation of the
Japanese government and people, but
by distinguishing between the reac-
tionary, autocratic forces that have
TOO largely dominated her policies and
leaders that are now coming to the
fore. Hope for Korea, and, indeed,
for China and the whole world lies
in the overthrow of militarism in
Japan. as in every land