Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-10-03

Congressman Hugh ). HefSman OF
Gilroy, Cal. who was one of the party,
issued a statement giving his version of
All incident at Seoul, Korea, where he
addressed a meeting of Koreans. several
of whom We're arrested afterward. The
statement in part said:
I'm the morning of our one day in
Seoul our japanese hosts assured us
it would be perfectly agreeable to them
for us to accept an invitation to meet
the Koreans in the afternoon in the
Y. NJ. c. A: hall. At the hours of the
meeting we We're told that the military
authorities did not think it wise to hold
the meeting as planned, that Koreans
who desired to see us could come to the
hotel parlors. AS the hour had long
passed l decided that if l wanted to see
anything of the Koreans [ had better
go to the Y. NJ G. A hall.
after being introduced and talking
short time with a venerable Korean
statesman, Mr.. Yum Chi Ho, who was
for many years stationed in Washing
ton. / was asked to speak a few words
TO ball full of people who had been
waiting for hours to see the members of
the American party. Rather than dis
appoint the audience that had gathered
j thought it more gracious to speak to
them than talk to few.
Politics Avoided
Any reference to political matters
was Of course carefully avoided. For
five or six minutes | addressed the most
eager. intense and expectant audience
that it will ever by my good fortune 70
tace. My words were interpreted by
Mr.. Yum Chi Ho. 4 short reply was
made BY the venerable Korean. il Chang
Chae, who had spent three years in iail
TOR preferring to be ruled over by q
Korean than by a Japanese.
Meets Guards
AS we we're walking off the platform
a number of police officers or gendarmes
marched up the aisle, took me bv the
coat and tried TO induce me to 20 out. I
told them to take their hands off that
! would DO SO at my leisure. In few
minutes ! walked down the aisle with
MIR. Gray, the American Y. M c. A.
secretary. and Mr.. Yung Chi Ho. As we
came from the reception hall to the lob
by many uniformed Japanese officers
wera in evidence. The exits from the
building We're guarded and both mounted
and foot gendarmes were numerous In
the street.
Koreans Arrested
'The Koreans. evidently expecting to
20 ont, followed US into the lobby. They
We're grabbed BY the officers and bru-
tally kicked.
Both Mr. Gray and myself vigorously
protested at such treatment.
II was informed by tf.a officer in
charge that the Koreans had all been
arrested and that ] was expected To 20.
! told them that if anyone should be
taken it was | and not the Koreans.
They were very insisteDt and | finally
said ! would not go until they released
all the Koreans. After an hour had been
spent in consultation and in sending mes
sagcs the Koreans were finally released.
"Our consul arrived on the scane
about this time. having heard from sew
ar9l people who had left the building
that ! was IN grave danger Of being ar
rested. A number Of statements hpve
appeared III Japan papers stating that
police action vas justified because Of
The crowds 1hat had filled the streets
and the disorder in The hall. This state
nent is Of course untrue. | never saw
! more orderly crowd.
II have talked with many foreign res
dents from China, Korea and Japan, |
with officers of the defacto government |
and the Koreans themselves. | am of |
he opinion that the policy of the i'm |
)erial japanese government has been Of |
such d nature that the Korean people |
viii peyer peaceably submit to ii.