ABDICATED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 172, 20 July 1907, Page 4

ABDICATED.

KOREAN EMPEROR.

EXCITEMENT IN SEOUL.

(By Cable.—Press Association*-^pyg—ji

(Becerved 5.34 ajn.)

SEOUL, July _j_ It has just been announced that-jfc Emperor of Korea has decided to £§£ cate to-day. The Elder Statesmen have writi?_i» the Marquis Ito, stating that Japm-jQj receive their support if it deals _urh towards the Emperor; otherwise-flu Elder Statesmen and the whole miau will prepare to die as martyrs. Viscount Hayashi (Japanese llhnjfer for Foreign Affairs) has arrived. _■ SeouL There is much unrest in the-viciniry ol the Palace. The mob attacked a Seoul .ne\fspat» office, and did much damage.

THE ES-EMPEBOK.

MEAMTNG OS" TVCV. CRISIS.

Even the Emperor's name will -not'.U familiar to the general public. .It.tfaa Vi Heui, and its possessor came to itha throne in 1864. On October IS, 1897, _j assumed the title of Emneror. -

Up to July, 1894, when war asasideclared by Japan against rQuna, tQ» monarchy, which is hereditary, -nuts practically absolute. The consfitation, the penal code, and the,official.admuiißtration were framed on the Chinesa model, except that the "Government was in the hands of a hereditary aristocracy, exclusive and corrupt.

Since early times Korea had ackaow ledged the suzerainty of China, & -suarainty which was denied .by '3apan,„an4 which was one of the causes of between China and Japan in;lBQ4. - The Chino-Japanese treaty of JJay 1595, first placed the country :nnder-thß direct influence of Japan. .:-.;..

On February 23 and.AttgnstJß, JMO4, Japan secured, by ; 3j__ Korea, important, admissions: .-ofier claim to control the adminisiaaiion.of the country, particularly jn Vlfce iatter. of foreign policy and .fihaaeM affairs.

In the Busso-Japanese of September 5, 1905, Bussja ledged Japan's paramount infer__g" in Korea, and the .Anglo-Japiiiese treaty contained a similar recognition. In November of the sameyear :came the Japanese-Korean treaty, wijieh-plaeEd the foreign affairs of Eorea whohy; ia Japanese hands, and which forms kha basis of the present situation. The latest development' is very-simple. The Emperor made a bid for power by claiming separate .representation at The Hague, and has paid for his. temerity with the loss of his t : frt"7"'-