Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-11-28
PEOPLE OF KOREA
ASK THAT RELIGIOUS
LIBERTY Be INSURED
Federal Council Petitions Jap
anese Governor for Many
Reforms.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Seoul. Korea. Nov. 27.--The fed
eral council of Protestant Evangell-
cal Missions of Korea has just pre-
sented to Governor General Baron
Baron Saito a petition asking that
religious liberty, already guaranteed
by the Japanese constitution, be
made effective in Korea. The petit
TONERS also asked that steps be TAX
en- by Japanese authorities to pro-
mote the moral welfare of the ko-
rean people. The memorial was pre-
scented pursuant to request from the
Governor-General that the mission
aries frankly express their views.
In presenting the petition, the fed
eral council expressed to Baron Sal
to it's qualification over his plans for
reforms in Korea.
In regard to evangelistic work, the
petitioners asked that fewer restric-
tions be placed upon the church and
its missionaries. They declared that
in the past the propagation of the
gospel had been continually hinderei /,
that Christian workers had been in
terfered with, and that Koreans had
been intimidated to prevent them
from becoming Christians. The petit
TONERS requested that officials be not
allowed to discriminate against
Christians and Christianity.
Among other things the federal
council asked:
Permission to teach the Bible and
hold religious exercises in their
church schools.
Removal of restrictions on the use
of the Korean language.
More liberty in the management OF
missionary schools and freedom from
unnecessary official interference.
Equal educational opportunities fo-
Koerans and Japanese.
Greater freedom in the selection Of
text books.
Removal of restrictions on the
study of Korean and universal his
tory.
Freedom to manage missionary
hospitals without official interior
ence.
Removal of censorship on Christian
books and that missionaries be no
restricted to publishing merel!
church news and religious litera
ture.
Freedom from official interference
with persons selling the Bible, tract
and other Christian literature.
Reparation for church property al
legged to have been destroyed by gov
eminent agents.
Drastic reform of the laws relat
ing to houses of prostitution an
against the system of prostitution al
legged to be permitted and protect
ed by the government and forced up
on the Korean Poop e, outraging the,
customs and feelings"
Reform in the laws affecting tn
manufacture and sale of opium, mon
phine and intoxicating liquor.
New laws restricting child labor.
In concluding the memorial tn
federal council said:
"As a missionary body we do mos
earnestly protest against the cruelty
barbarity and injustice which wer
SO manifest in the conduct of the sol
diers, gendarmes and police in meet
ing the unarmed demonstrations Q
the people; conduct which was i
many, places emulated by the civilia
population with, in many cases, tn
connivance of the police, and with
out punishment by the authorize
when their attention was brought
the facts.
1--WE also protest against the CRUZ
methods often used at the prelimir
airy examinations of prisoners in OF
der to extract confessions from thel
and to secure evidence against Others
"We record our sincere gratifics
ton that the Imperial Government
Japan has, in part, withdrawn thos
responsible for offences and ha
promised far-reaching reforms.
"We have read with deep apprecis
ton, the proclamation of Your E,
cellency, and heard Your Excellency
statements of your intention to re
organize the whole system of go,
eminent.
eve regret to have to call after
ton of Your Excellency to the fa'
that the infliction of severe corpor;
punishment, which has resulted
the death of some, and the maimin
of others for life, is still being col
tinued. Several cases were admit
ted to the severance hospital la
week, and six more applied for az
mission as late as September 2S.
1--WE respectfully, yet most carr
estly, urge upon Your Excellency tt
speedy abolition of racial discrimin
ton against the Koreans in the ma
ter of flogging and of police sun
mary judgment"
British Against