The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1907. WHY THE KOREAN EMPEROR ABDICATED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2139, 23 July 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1907. WHY THE KOREAN EMPEROR ABDICATED.

As Britain is to Egypt so is Japan 1 to Korea. Stated baldly this is the I position of affairs m the countijUiat lma been poetically closer 1 bed as ibe I Land of the Morning Calm. 1 hat 1 the present arrangement is not on- 1 tirelv satisfactory is evidenced by th ■ cables which have come to lianet recently. The diihculties that aie only hinted at in the scanty information thus obtained, have culminated I in the abdication of the Emperor ot I Korea. The first stage 111 a remarkable series of events was the recent I appearanco of a Korean deputation I at the Hague Peace Conference winch in an unexpected and sensational I manner protested against its neglect I bv the Powers. This was followed I by the news that the Emperor of Korea had repudiated the envoys and their message, but subsequently. 1 I was stated that ho had actually despatched them secretly. The next I I step in tlio Korean drama was tlie do- I maud on the part of tlio Premier ot Korea that the Emperor should abdicate. For sumo time 110 held out, I but yesterday’s cables announce that j I lio has given way. All of which suggests that the persistent ‘Jap bad found the Emperor a H obstacle »< his path and was intent on his removal. , ■ . The position that Japan is supposed to hold in Korea lias been defined with the most scrupulous euro bv several treaties and international I agreements. When the Mikado issiiled his famous declaration of war against Russia in 1904, he stated that 0110 of Japan’s chief objects was to I preserve the integrity of Korea. I Long before this, 111 1896 and 18J8, Japan and Russia had jointly and I severally garanteed “the sovereignty I a id entire independence of Korea. When the war broke out in 1904 JaI pan signed a treaty with Korea, enI gaging to “insure the safety and reI pose of the Imperial House of KoI rea,” and once again guaranteeing I “tlio independence and territorial I integrity of tho . Korean Empire. I There is ample evidence that the JapI anese have not only construed this treaty in the sense most generous to I themselves, but) have gone, considerI ably beyond the spirit of its provisions. They have,. in effect, taken I charge of tlie country’s affairs, and the Ministry and Emperor have beI come merely puppets. .. I *But the Japanese claim that tiiey ■ are fully justified in everything that . I they have done by the terms ol a treaty signed between Korea and 'I Japan in November, 1905. Ihe l I chief features of this treaty are that I “the external relations and affairs” I of Korea are to lie controlled by the

elude any agreement with foreign Powers except through Japan ; and that. Japan shall be represented at Seoul by a llesulent-Genernl. who shall appoint Residents in place of Consuls at! the chief centres of trade. This agreeement we need hardly point out amounted to a virtual abdication by the Emperor ol his Imperial authority, and a complete surrender of Korea’s independence to Japan. But unfortunately for the Japanese side of tho case, there has recently been given to the world a remarkable document which throws rather more than doubt- or

I suspicion upon tin's supposed treaty. I Through Mr. Douglas Story, one of I the many distinguished journalists I who followed the changing fortunes I of the great struggle in the Far I East, the Emperor of Korea has isI sued a solemn jirotest, repudiating I in every particular the treaty that I Japan claims to have arranged with I Korea after the end of the war. The Emperor declares that he did not I sign or agree to sign the treaty; | that he has never surrendered any. I part of his sovereign rights to the I Japanese; that ho has never authorisI ed the Japanese to appoint any official.to exercise the Imperial aiithorI ity claimed for their Residents and I Resident-General, or to control Korea’s internal affairs; and this extraordinary appeal ends with a reI quest to the Powers to exercise a joint Protectorate over Korea so as to save her from Japan. | According to Mr. Story the KorI cans as a. nation are opposed no loss bitterly than their Emperor to the renunciation of their independence at the bidding of Japan. For many days and nights the gates of the Emperor's palace wore besieged by crowds of suppliants, kneeling bareheaded, as is the custom of the country, waiting for him to grant their request, and denounce the treaty. .The leading nobles and officials in the country sent a joint memorial to all the Foreign Legations in Seoul, prtesting indignantly against the Convention, on the ground that the Japanese envoy had used threats and violence, that the palace was crowded with soldiers, and that the official seal used had been stolen from the Foreign Minister. When all remonstrances failed, Prince Nim Yong, a general and ex-Ministor, committed suicide, to demonstrate his loyalty and patriotism .

Latest cables suggest that a similar scene has taken place, for it is related that “five thousand gathered in front of the Palace gates and were beaten back,” and this morning wo are informed that Korean soldiers have taken the matter into their own hands and have assailed their “protectors.” Marquis Ito, the Japanese representative in Korea, is reported to have stated that he did not interfere in the matter at all, and that the Korean Cabinet acted upon its sole initiative in calling upon the Emperor to resign. That may he so, hut there will he many who will look hack upon tliH latest incident as a last despera hut futile endeavor on the part of the Koreans to retain their independence and to compel the Japanese to respect their treaties.