to be prompt from the Japanese, an answer was given in this sense: "Korea being an independent State, enjoys the same sovereign rights as does Japan" (see treaty of Kang-hua, 1876), and that in "both internal administration and foreign intercourse Korea enjoys complete independence" (see letter of the King to the President of the United States). They suppose that by thus quoting the treaties which China allowed them to make she can not take offense, while Japan should be content with such answer. I hear, in fact, that the Japanese are quite pleased with the reply. I have, etc., No. 20.] JOHN M. B. SILL. Mr. Ye Sung Soo to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF KOREA, Washington, July 5, 1894. (Received July 5.) SIR: I am just in receipt of a telegram stating that The foreign representatives at Seoul have had a meeting. The Japanese minister declines to withdraw Japanese troops. Please ask the President of the United States to adjust the difficulty. May I ask that you promptly inform me of any information you may receive relating to affairs in Korea which you can communicate to me. Accept, etc., YE SUNG-Soo, Minister Resident for Korea. [Inclosure 1 in No. 20-Telegram.] The Korean Government to Mr. Ye Sung-Soo. THE PALACE, June 28, 1894. The Japanese minister called at the palace to-day and requested me to instruct our prime minister or the president of the foreign office to have a meeting and change our political system. It seems to be a serious condition of affairs, and he refuses to withdraw Japanese troops. 1 See Article I of the treaty between Korea and Japan signed at Kang-hua February 26, 1876. Forwarded to the Secretary of State by Commodore R. W. Shufeldt in his dispatch of May 29, 1882. This letter reads as follows: "The King of Ta Chao-hsien Kuo (Korea) makes a communication to the President of the United States: "The Chao-hsien country (Korea) is a dependency of China, but the management of her governmental affairs, Home and foreign, have always been vested in the Sovereign. "Now, as the Governments of the United States and Korea are about to enter into treaty relations, the intercourse between the two nations shall be carried on in every respect on terms of equality and courtesy, and the King of Korea clearly assents that all the articles of the treaty shall be acknowledged and carried into effect according to the laws of independent states. "In the matter of Korea being a dependency of China any questions that may arise between them in consequence of such dependency, the United States shall in no way interfere. The King has accordingly deputed commissioners for the purpose of negotiating the treaty, and now, as in duty bound, addresses this communication for the information of the President of the United States. "A necessary communication. Dated the 291st year of the founding of Ta Chaohsien Kuo (Korea), and the 28th day of the third moon of the eighth year of the reign of Kuang-hsü." See also the note of the Tsung-li Yamên to Mr. F. F. Low, in Foreign Relations of the United States for 1871, p. 112. See the Secretary of State promptly and explain to him the importance of a powerful conference to adjust the difficulty and avert a conflict. [Inclosure 2 in No. 20.] Korean Government to Mr. Ye Sung-Soo. THE PALACE. The Chinese and Japanese troops remain in Korea. The ministers of foreign countries are to have a conference on the subject of the present condition of affairs; respectfully ask the Government of the United States to instruct its representatives in China, Japan, and Korea to use their efforts in averting any conflict, and ask that the troops of the respective countries be withdrawn as speedily as possible. No. 21.] Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 6, 1894. (Received August 16.) SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of the 3d instant, as follows: Korea situation critical; hostilities imminent. Chinese Government shows conciliatory attitude in spite of aggressive action of Japan, and asks good offices of England, Russia to secure peaceful solution. Mr. O'Conor, Her British Majesty's minister, asked me to telegraph you requesting that the United States Government take the initiative in uniting the other great powers in a joint protest at Tokyo against the commencement of hostilities by Japan. He said that he was in communication with the Yamên and that he knew such action would be acceptable to China and the other powers. I declined to do so unless the Tsung-li-Yamên requested it. I felt it my duty, however, to advise you of the critical condition of affairs at the date of my telegram and of China's attitude with reference thereto. The latest advices that have reached Peking indicate that a disposition to resort to diplomatic methods instead of violence is showing itself and that a peaceful solution of the controversy is probable. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY. い No. 22.] Mr. Denby, chargé, to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 8, 1894. (Received August 24.) SIR: I have the honor to state that I received last night from Mr. Read, United States consul at Tientsin, a telegram as follows: Viceroy desires legation telegraph Washington to take initiative urging powers to unite request Japan Government to have Japanese troops withdrawn Korea. In compliance with this request, which I did not feel at liberty to refuse to bring to your attention, I telegraphed you to-day as follows: The Viceroy Li requests the United States to take the initiative urging powers to unite in request to Japan to withdraw troops Korea. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY, Jr. Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham. [Telegram.] Nos. 23 and 24.] SEOUL, July 8, 1894. Admiral left on the 2d, against my judgment. Received his notice the day after his departure. He said that, according to instructions from the Department, he has ordered Monocacy to relieve him, and said that she is expected hourly. I am not yet advised of their sailing. 1 had promised the King asylum in case of emergency. Admiral's departure places me in a humiliating and most perilous position. The minister at Washington communicated by telegraph to this Government that you have advised them to protest against the demand of [the] Japanese Government, made under duress, and to notify the foreign ministers. Mr. Gresham to Mr. Sill. No. 25.] [Telegram.] WASHINGTON, July 9, 1894. Your telegram of yesterday received. I told Korean minister here this Government could not intervene forcibly. I did not advise him that Korea should protest and notify foreign powers. No. 26.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, July 13, 1894. SIR: The condition of affairs between the three Kingdoms seems practically unchanged. The Japanese are reported to have withdrawn their merchant steamers from the northern lines, the inference being that they are to be used for transporting troops and supplies. An indication, however, of a more friendly attitude on the part of Japan is the fact that the Japanese chargé d'affaires at Peking was yesterday received in audience by the Emperor of China, for the purpose of thanking His Majesty for his congratulations to the Emperor of Japan on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his marriage. The Viceroy Li is reported to have applied to the Emperor for authority to raise a large loan for military purposes. I have, etc., CHAS. DENBY. No. 27.] Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Seoul, July 18, 1894. (Received August 23.) SIR: Referring to my four dispatches regarding military operations in Korea, I have the honor to inform you that as no new Chinese troops have been sent to Korea no fighting has as yet taken place. More Japanese troops have arrived, some 15,000 in all, with 3,000 coolies additional for transportation. The Japanese merchant vessels have been taken off the lines between Japan and Korea for use as transports, thus making communication with the outside world very difficult. As a rule, the Japanese troops have conducted themselves in an orderly manner, in this way and by the conciliatory conduct of the Japanese authorities winning considerable favorable sentiment from the Koreans. One unfortunate act was the forcible interference with Her Britannic Majesty's representative near a Japanese camp, as I cabled you yesterday. (See my dispatch of July 17.) I now have the honor to inclose the correspondence on this subject exchanged between the Japanese and English representatives. In this connection I will also allude to a correspondence, copies of which I inclose, between the Japanese and British Governments and their representatives here relative to a charge made by Mr. Gardner to his Government in London that Mr. Otori had demanded the dismissal of the English naval instructor in the employ of this Government. I inclose a copy of Mr. Otori's suggestions [demands] for reforms, that you may judge for yourselves as to where the blame should rest. The presentation of these demands, or rather suggestions, by Mr. Otori, has been the chief occurrence of importance since my last writing. Mr. Otori had asked in audience (see my No. 16, June 29), that a council be appointed to consider certain proposals he wished to make. As the appointment of this council was delayed, the Japanese minister finally demanded that the appointment be made in three days. I was asked for my advice, which was that they grant the council with powers only to listen and report upon the demands of Japan. The inclosure above was the result. To this, also upon my advice, the Government made answer that while many of these proposals were in accordance with the line of policy endeavored to be pursued for the past ten years by Korea, they could not accept them now in the face of the military occupation of their country. Meantime the King has appointed a large and influential council of his own to consider reforms that they should make themselves, and already they have decided to strike off all needless taxes, such as have been levied during the past ten years a personal perquisites. We have had several meetings at the foreign office, in which the foreign representatives endeavored to arrange for the neutrality of Chemulpo, a proposition to which the Chinese readily consented, but the Japanese made such conditions as would preclude any idea of neutrality. Mr. Waeber, Russian representative here, whose departure for duty in Peking I mentioned in my No. 12, June 1, has suddenly returned to his post here. I appreciate his wisdom and long experience very highly. I have also to report in this connection, the arrival, on the 12th, of the U. S. S. Monocacy at Chemulpo. Commander Impey seems desirous of cooperating with me in doing everything necessary for the due and proper protection of American interests. I hear a report from outside, but reliable sources, that the Baltimore arrived at Chemulpo yesterday. We anticipate action on the part of the Chinese in a few days, as soon as the imperial birthday ceremonies are completed. Chinese men and merchants have nearly all left for China on orders from their officials. The present trouble is bringing to the front some very useful young men, notably Ye Cha-yun, who was for four years in charge of the Korean legation at Washington. He has been appointed an officer of the third rank and a vice-president of the foreign office. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1 in No. 27.] JOHN M. B. SILL. Mr. Gardner to Mr. Otori. SEOUL, July 15, 1894. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that this afternoon I went for a walk a little to the right of Yang-wha chin road with my wife, Mr. Brown, and my secretary, Mr. Fox. When Mr. Fox and I were in front on a public path we were assaulted by some Japanese in military uniform. One person spoke a little French and asked our names. I demanded his name, and he gave it as Sous Lieutenant T. Ishido. I then gave him my name and title in English and Chinese, writing them down, with a protest that I yielded to force majeure. After giving my name and title, without the slightest provocation, and though I stated I would yield to force majeure and do what was wished, we were dragged about 50 yards and I was all the time being struck with the fists by Japanese wearing military uniforms. I was then let go and joined my wife and Mr. Brown. About a quarter of an hour afterwards I was on my way home along a public road when a quantity of Japanese dressed in military uniform rushed forward, blocked the public way, and stopped us, and again demanded my name. I recognized some of them as some of the men who had previously assaulted me. I yielded to force majeure and again gave my name, but in spite of that Mrs. Gardner was hustled and her chair pushed from the road into the ditch. I have, etc., C. T. GARDNER, Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General. [Inclosure 2 in No. 27.] Mr. Otori to Mr. Gardner. SEOUL, July 15, 1894. SIR: Referring to your note of to-day's date respecting the assault said to have been made against you and some others by some Japanese in military uniforms, I have the honor to assure you in the first instance that I have taken immediate steps to investigate the case. SIR: In reply to your note of the 15th instant, about the matter of assault said to have been committed by some Japanese in military uniform against you, your wife, and two other gentlemen, I have the AP FR 94- -3 |