New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
Million Coreans
Organizing to
Dust Japanese
Forced to Manchuria and ST.
IBERIA by Nipponese Rule,
Bands Being Equipped
With Arms for Campaign
Reforms Fail to Satisfy
Bolsheviki Egg On Coreans
in Effort to Obstruct To-
kiO Government Program
By Nathaniel PETER


tion and near-riot that attended the
visit of the American Congressman in
Seoul, Corea. has served to direct at
tention to conditions in that country
again. Since the popular outburst that
was echoed throughout the world
eighteen months ago because of the
harshness with which it was put down
little has been heard about Corea. but
conditions have been far from peaceful
nevertheless.
The lot of the Coreans has been
amelloratcd to a certain extent A GER
tain degree of leniency has been intro
duced in the Japanese rule Of the
country and a certain measure of re-
form has been granted. But because
of the bitterness lasting over fr m
their harsh treatment last year and
also because in essence the reforms
granted have been paper reforms the
Coreans have remained unreconci}ed
and there has been not only smolder-
ing sentiment but sporadic outbursts.
The reforms have by no means gone
down to essentials. The basic griev-
ances Of the Coreans are unredressed
similation, is unchanged, and it is that
which gives rise to Corea's bitter an
tagonism. The Coreans are desperate
under the prospect of losing tt cir
language, their traditions and their
culture, and it is that which they ale
fighting for.
Papers Pro-Japanese
Moreover, they say the Japanese
have given with one hand and taken
away with the other. They cite the
instance Of freedom Of the press. Up
till few months ago no Corean news
paper was permitted Early this year
Toxic announced with considerable
flourish that three Corean newspapers
would be permitted to issue. It was
announced that one would even be
edited by a leading Corean rebel.
The three papers actually were is
sued. But of the three two are edited
by Coreans we'll recognized as pro-
Japanese and their columns contain
undisguised Japanese propaganda in
tended to break down the morale of
the Corean advocates of independence.
The third was edited by the Corean
rebel. But while the other two have
been unmolestcd by the authorities it
has been suppressed more than twenty
times in a few months, all the issues
being conhscated, and only in the last
few days it has been closed down en-
under arrest. That, the Coreans say,
is illustrative Of the operation of all
the Japanese reforms.
Meanwhile there has been signif-
icant change in the tactics cf the
Corean nationalists and a marked in
crease in acts Of violence. When the
Corcan uprising first broke out it was
a revolt Of passive resistance. 1t ex-
llessed itself in demonstrations, in
strikes, in suspension of business, in
resistance to government orders. What
g 81,
Japanese.
Outbreaks of Guerrilla Warfare
More recently there has been diver
gencc from this policy. There have
been assassinations not of Japanese
hut of prof. apanese Coreans. There
have been also outbreaks of guerrilla
n the sparsely populated regions on
the northern frontier. The firs1 is al
most inevitable. The Corean3 have
suffered cruelty. 1t has been inevitable
that while they might suppress their
wrath against the conquerors they
would satisfy it on the persons Of
those Of their own people serving the
ccnquerors. There are not few such
A tight network Of espionage is spread
over Corea, many of its threads
Coreans. They have served as spies,
% s.StEIS PIONOGdttuIS, even some
times as torturers. They have goaded
10 vengeance those whom they have
betrayed, and thcre have been murders
as a result. Inevitable as that may be,
it is regrettable. The Coreans have
littlc to gain by violence. They are
opposed by powerful lap
anese garrison and beyond the hope
Of accomplishing anything by force
The use of force can result only in
the killing off of those whom they
most need, those with most spirit and
greatest courage.
China is the center from which 1hc
Corcan rebels work. Pcking is taeir
house and Shanghai the seat
of their provisional government
Among the leaders of the movement
there is now great friction They are
divided into two schools. The one be-
leves in a continuance of passive re-
sistance, with a worldwide propaganda
urging Corcas claim to Independence
and appealing for sympthy for its op-