The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-15

latter part of the sixteenth century,
about 1897 to 1894, when In disputes
over the relative influence which the
governments of China and Japan. re-
spectively. were exercising and to exer-
else in Corea. the war began. At that
time Japan declared the Independence OF
Corea as sovereign State.
THE victory of Japan led her TO de-
mand In addition to an indemnity, the
oession by China OF the Island Of For
mosa and the Liaotung Peninsula, in
Guiding the fortress of Port Arthur.
Forced by the advice of Germany, Rus
sia, and France. Japan eventually de-
cided not to annex Liaotung Peninsula,
but to accept an indemnity OF 30,000,0 900
taels instead. The yielding of Japan to
the advice Of the three European nations
not to annex the Liaotung Peninsula
was most unwilling, and from the time
when Russia. In 1896, secured lease of
Port Arthur, followed by concession
of railways and mining privileges in
Manchuria for herself, the Japanese
statesmen asserted to their friends that
it seemed evident that a war between
Russia and japan was inevitable. The
advantageous time for the war was the
question for Japan to settle. Evidently
Russias aggressive policy would force
Japan to resist in order to protect her
own soveteignty,
THE inevitable conflict of two such
ambitious powers as Russia and Japan
coveting the same, territory-Corea and
Manchuria-led to the Russo-Japanese
War, beginning in February, 1904.
Victory Dearly Bought.
''The result of the war was on the
whole victory for Japan, but it was
q victory dearly bought. There was a
racriflce of lives and the assumption OF
q heavy burden of debt. Japan had
doubtless expected to collect an in
dcmnity sufficient to cover the financial
costs of the war, and possibly consider
ably more, as she had done in the China
japanese War. She was, however. so
weakened by the war and its continu-
ally increasing expense as the fighting
zone receded further from her base of
supplies, that Russia was able positively
to refuse to pay any monetary indem-
nifty. Japan could only free Corea, re-
lieving herself from any danger In that
quarter, and retaining there a dominant
position and securing from Russia the
latter's claims in South ManchuTia.
although Japan had declared at the
beginning Of the war that she was fight
ing to free Manchuria from the Rus
sian shackles and to secure and main
tain independence for Corea, on re-
ceiving from Russia the transfer of the
concessions which that country had Sc
cured from China by brides and threats,
she compelled China to agree to the
transfer. She even went further. Rus
sta had ,nominally, at least, arranged for
a joint use of Port Arthur with China.
although it was clearly understood that
4, nrtx m ha base
and that she was to have actual con-
troll. Japan, however. made no pretenco
She insisted upon the sole use during
the term of the so-called lease.
I'm Corea matters moved promptly.
At the beginning Of the war Japan
made an agreement with the Corean
Government February 20, 1904. definite
ly to guarantee the Independence and
territorial integrity of the Corean EN-
pire.' 1t was understood that Japan
might occupy such places as may be
necessary from strategic points of view.
Later. in the same year, Corea was
forced to agree to take Japanese SUBJ
1oct as adviser. whose counsel must be
also to appoint a Japanese diplomatic
adviser to negotiate contracts with for
eigners, and to direct diplomatic affairs.
In communicating this agreement to the
American Government. the japanese
Minister of Foreign Affairs said that his
country did not intend to place any
impeachment in the way of legitimate en-
terprises in Corea,' but merely to check
unwise and improvident engagements
On April 1, 1905, another agreement
amaigamated the transportation systems
of the two countries. On November IL,
1905, the Emperor of Corea agreed to
receive a acknowledgement at his court,
whose duty it should be to direct diplc-
matte affairs and to control all foreign
matters. Soon, by way Of administra-
tive measures, high official appoint
ments were placed under compulsion in
japanese hands. In 1903 the japanese
took the police power, and on August
2, 1910, the Corean Emperor sur
rendered his imperial title and his coun-
try was formally annexed to Japan
United states-Corean Treaty.
Americans should bear in mind the
fact that in the treaty which the United
States made with Corea at the time
that she opened her commerce to US our
country undertook. in case Corea was
subjected to oppression by other nations,
to intervene In her behalf. AS has lately
been shown unquestionably by the tes-
timony of Prof. Hurlburt, the American
scnt as agent by Corea to claim this
protection, the Corean Government re-
quested the United States to intervene
in her behalf and prevent this annexa-
ton. Owing to numerous delays, how
ever, brought about by the direct action
of Japan, apparently connived at like
wise by American officials this request
was not formally presented until the
act of annexation had been accomplished,
and no assistance was rendered The
devious policy of Japan, whether or not
tustifiable from the political viewpoint,
is clearly apparent, and Japanese his
torians themselves make no attempt to
deny 1t.
"kt the time of the Boxer uprising in
1900 Japan had been among the nations
that had agreed to the policy of main
talning the territorial entirety of China
and her independent sovereignty. Japan
likewise Joined with the other nations
In the open-door policy of Secretary Hay.
After the close of the Russo-Japanese
war, when she had taken over the Rus
sian claims TO the South Manchuria rail-
way and was administering that line
she again more than once reafflrmed
that policy. For no considerable length
of time, however, during any of the
period from that day TO this, has that
policy been fairly carried out IN Man
churia and the zones under the control
of Japan Foreign shippers have FREE
quently. one might almost say regularly.
complained of determinations direct or
indirect. The testimony IL clear that
foreign shippers have seen their products
held on side tracks on unprotected cars
and being spoiled by the rain, while at
the same time Japanese products of
similar nature-soya beans and the like
were going directly on to the shipping
port