The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1912. WHAT JAPAN IS DOING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 4 October 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1912. WHAT JAPAN IS DOING.

There are many people credited with much wisdom who have ever doubted the reality of the evolution of Japan, insomuch as that evolution has altered in any way the national character. These sceptics* are dubious of the reality of Japan’s new civilisation, anti even fear her professed friendship for Britain but masks sinister designs. There is support for such views, in

a measure at least, when Japan’s treatment of Korea is carefully considered. It would appear that Japan is determined on the isolation of the little kingdom for her own ends, and the recent treatment of Korean Christians docs not tend to make their much-troubled country’s lot more hopeful. Possibly in no eastern land has the work of Christian missionaries made such strides as in Korea', speaking comparatively, and the indications were that Christianity might soon become the religion of the population as a whole. With Japan’s advent, howi ever, came an immediate check and close observers affirm that despite the professed innocence of officials and the plausible statements from time to time made Japan intends to root out the new faith from Korea. Dark stories of most cruel persecution and barbaric torture at times leak out, though care is exercised to keep the facts in the back ground as much as possible. The alleged conspiracy charge on which a large number of ; Christian converts have been on trial at Scold, is put forward as an evidence, and we are told that though the only or main reason for so charging them was the confession of certain native Korean Christian prisoners, the police presented no other evidence. But those unfortunate prisoners afterwards swore that their confessions were untrue—that “they were wrung from them by torture, and formulated for the most part through the leading'questions of the police, to which they feebly assented when too exhausted by pain to persist in denial.” That gives a sinister insight into the judiciary methods of the Japanese in Korea. The charge against these unfortunates was that they were joined in a conspiracy against the life of the Covernor-General, Count Terauchi, and a hundred and twenty men were placed on trial for the alleged crime. Besides these there were nine executed without trial; throe died while under arrest, succumbing to tortures, as their friends assert; and it is estimated that about twenty wore released. In addition, certain American missionaries, some twenty, were said to be implicated, and their names were mentioned openly in court. Foreigners are reported to be much disquieted and there arc those who have no hesitation in expressing their belief that the extirpation of Christianity

from Korea—ami later from Japan—is intended. That there was not the slightest foundation for the allegations of plotting against the life of Count Teranchi, the Japanese L ememvnt Governor, is strenuously maintained,

hut. with forced “confessions” Baron Yun Chi Ho, ex-president of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and most of those arrested with him •in February, were found guilty and a message received on September ‘29th, stated that Yun Chi Ho and live others were sentenced to ton years’ imprisonment, eighteen others to seven years, and forty to six years, forty-two to live years, and seventeen were acquitted.