Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-04
DR.. PHILIP JAISOHN
On Korea's Struggle for independence

On NorcdS struggle 'o' '"eSPs'eSS~
TNHE outlook for political independence IN
L Korea is now brighter than 1t has been
at any time since the events following the
Russo Japanese War, which resulted so dis
astrously for Korea. says Dr. Philip Jalt
sohn. of this city, one of the directors OF
the Friends of Korea and one OF the pest
known Korean born citizens OF this country.
THE struggle for her political indcpenuI,
encc in which Korea is now engaged anu
which she has wagcd increasingly, since Ihe
close'6f the Russo Japanese War. SAID Dr.
JSsohn ''now shows some signs that IL ma!
be terminated favorably for our people. Inc
Friends Of Korea. an American orgahi"a
ton which has played an important part IN
this struggle. is now about three wears o,a
and has membership of about 30.oCo. IL
is particularly strong in Philadelphia.
Korea Important to Japan
"Japans real reason for wanting Korea
is to have n base on the mainland of ASIA.
The original plan did not. nor do l think
that the present one includes Korea, except
as n valuable pawn in a larger game. me
first plan. and the one which think is still
in existence. is the ultimate control Of
China. but it is clearly impossible to carry
IL out unless there is q permanent base on
the Asiatic mainland and Korea was not
only the best place where this might be oD-
tanned. but it has many other advantages.
THE Koreans and the japanese have
nothing in common from the standpoint OF
blood or race. The Koreans arc more Mon
golian, being more closely related 10 thc
Chinese and Manchurians. whereas the
japanese are of Malay origin.
1.-The Japanese are indebted to the
Koreans for good deal Of their ciyiliza-
ton. however About eight centuries ago a
goodly number of Koreans emigrated into
Japan and have since cXerted very con-
sdcrable influence on that country. These
Korean emigrants taught the japanese the
e ell IL Nd hp9i1pS giving
n distinct impetus to the present japanese
literature. laws and the general arts Of
civilization.
Koreans at Satsuma
of any one will go to Satsuma today,
where the famous Satsuma ware. perhaps
the best known of the japanese porcclains,
is made he will find about 200 Korean fami-
lies still living there. OF course. they are
| Japanese now. but they are the descendants S
of the Korean rmigrants of 500 years ago,
! and still have the traditions and follow the
customs of their Korean ancestors.
Korea is about forty-two centuries old,
| Of which time there are twenty seven CEN
| turics of written history. Most of the cvili =
| cation Of Asia originated in Korea. which
| always had maintained its independence
! until about twenty years ago. japanese
domination began in 1908 and was the re.
| suit of tho Russo Japanese war. The United
| States unwittingly played an important part
| in the loss of Korean political independence.
when the Russian and the japanese
! delegates to the Peace Conference came to
| the United States, Japan demanded n biz
indemnity from Russia. which Count Witte
| said was impossible to pay. Russia had
| more than $50. .OO0. 900 population and would
not pay this Big indemnity in self-rcspect,
| whether they could raise the money or not.
| The result was Il deadlock.
Where America Came In
"Mr Roosevelt. then President. said that
! the delegates must find some ground upon
which they could agree. apd then Japan
offered to waive the indemnity if given Il
| free hand in Korea. AS the Russians did
not own Korea, they were perfectly willing
| 10 grant this proposition. But there was q
treaty between the United States anC
Korea. Korea had not wanted to open it,
country to America. but America insisted
| and guaranteed Korea against foreign ag
| gression. This treaty has a clause to the
| effect that If Korea is oppressed by forcigI
nations the United States would come TO it,
rescue.
Thus Japan was helpless unless America
consented England and Japan were alread,
| bound by alliance, and there would be II,
opposition there. so when Mr. Roosevelt
consented, in order to bring about peace Il
was finished and Japan practically gobblet
up Korea.
she could not successfully carry on the cam
paign against Russia without n base on tn,
Asiatic mainland. Therefore she made a,
offensive and defensive alliance with Kore,
in February, 1908. BY the terms of thi
Japan was to use Korea as a base of opcr,
ations, but agreed to restore everything afte
the war and guaranteed the territorial an,
political integrity Of Korea. Korea sicne,
The treaty and opened the country to thu
Japanese Army and Navy. Japan then wo,
The war and betrayed her ally in the pcac,
Conference.
Sources Of Wealth
! Another reason why Japan wants Kore,
is on account of her richness in natural re
sources. Korea is rich in coal and iron
whereas Japan has no iron at all and bu
little coal. Japan has an enormous naturs