The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1919-05-20
OBSERVER TELLS OF KOREAN
HOPE OF HOME RULE


the Korean Instruction, its origin
and development, in the report of
conditions in the Hermit Kingdom"
written by an American observer
and forwarded to the American min
lister at Pekin, copy of which was
seen by correspondent of The
Associated Press.
The American, in his story, which
covers the first two weeks of the
outbreak-from March i to March
I15-and which he prepared for
transmission to the state depart
ment al Washington, gives what are
purported TO be the inside facts as
to the causes Of the revolution.
He reiterated the rumors regarding
the death of the aged former En-
peror VI, that many Of the Koreans
believed he was a suicide in the
hope of averting the marriage of
his son, Prince kon, to the japanese
princess Hashimoto. Vi died, sup
posedly of apoplexy, on January p,
one week before the time set for
the wedding.
''Disaffected Koreans in America,
Hawaii, Manchuria. China and
Japan have kept up a constant agi-
tation against japanese rule in
Korea ever since their occupation
of the peninsula" the observer re-
ports. When the revolution broke
out simultaneously in many parts
of Korea, however. it took the gov
eminent almost completely by sur
prise
About February Is. some of
these Korean agitators had come
secretly TO their native land and
organized committees to begin a
movement for establishing the ma
tons independence. Their work
was quiet and effective. Their
plan was to begin passive revolu-
ton in which no property was to
be damaged or destroyed and no
persons, not even japanese, to be
harmed. If the Koreans were beat
en-, or imprisoned, they were to
take their punishment without com
plant even suffering death rather
than bring reproach on the Korean
cause"
After submitting that up to the
time of his departure from Korea
the people had religiously observed
the covenant of passive resistance,
the American observer goes on TO
say that what really precipitated
the movement for liberty was a re-
port that the peace conference in
Paris was to adjourn permanently
on March %, and that unless the
Koreans presented their grievances
and claims for self-determination
before that date. that Koreans for
ever after would be compelled 10
hold their peace and remain under
the yoke Of the "oppressor.
j President Wilson's fourteen
points," he said, were well known
to all educated Koreans and the
self determination for small nations
feature made strong appeal to
them. At the same time, it was
reported that the peace conference
had sent a special delegate TO the
Far East to investigate and report
ION Korean national affairs. The
Koreans. therefore, bestirred them
selves to show the envoy how bit
terly they resented the japanese
domination" Although never off
cially credited as such an envoy
John Jay Abbott, representing large
American financial interests. abou,
this time was reported on the way
to investigate conditions in China
and the Koreans Immediately hi
upon the hypothesis that Abbott was
the representative of the Paris con-
ference.
! FOREIGNERS whose residence has
been in the East but outside Japan
proper" continued the report, "are
generally well acquainted with Jap
anese dealings with other nations.
/ The same methods of intrigue, de-
ception, brow-beating and force
have been followed in China, For
mosa. Manchuria, Korea and re-
Gently in Siberia. The people who
have been so unfortunate as to
cross their path have invariably
suffered" meanwhile" says the