A NATION'S DOWNFALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9315, 15 August 1908, Page 4

A NATIONS DOWNFALL.

HOW KOREA WAS STOLEN

Even since the Japanese gained control of the Government of Korea, scraps of information have from time to time leaked out which places the conduct of the Japanese officials as extraordinarily assertive and domineering Now a detailed account of the manner ♦in which the transfer of power was obtained, written by F. A. Mackenzie, has b?en published in a book entitled " Tlie Tragedy of Korea." In November, 1905, the MaTquis Ito arrived in Seoul as special envoy from the Mikado, and demanded the signature of the Emperor of Korea to' a treaty which provided that the foreign relations of Korea be placed entirely in the hands of Japan ; that the Japanese Minister to Korea become supreme administrator to the country under the Emperor, and that Japanese consuls in the different * districts be made residents, with the powers of supreme local governors. Th© Emperor met the re- [ quest with blank refusal.

Thereupon tlie Korean Cabinet members were summoned to a conference on the following day at the Japanese legation, and a furious debate continued for many hours. In spite of threats, cajoleries and proffered bribes, the Ministers remained steadfast.

The conference wae continued next day, and then the Japanese took the Cabinet to the Palace, and a meeting took place in the presence of the Emperor.

All this time the Japanese troops had been making a great display of military force around the Palace. They had been parading the streets and' open places in front of the Palace. The field guns were out and the men were fully armed. They did everything short of actual violence that they could to demonstrate to the Koreans that they were able to enforce their demands.

To the Cabinet Ministers themselves and to the Emperor all this display had a sinister and terrible, meaning. They could not forget the night in 1895 when the Japanese soldiers had paraded round another palace, and when their picked bullies had forced their way inside and murdered the Queen. Japan hod done this- before, why should she not do it again?

That evening Japanese soldiers with fixed bayonets entered the courtyard of the Palace and stood near the apartment of the Emperor. Marquis Ito demanded an audience of the Emperor. The Emperor refused to grant it. .The Marquis then made his way to the Emperor's presence and personally requested an audience. The Emperor still refused. "Please go away and discuss the matter with the Cabinet Ministers," he said.

Thereupon Marquis Ito went outside to the Ministers. " Your Emperor has commanded you to confer with me and settle this matter," he declared. The presence of the soldiers, the gleaming of the bayonets outside, the harsh words of command that could be heard through the windows of the Palace buildings were not without their effect. The Ministers saw submission or destruction before them.

Signs of yielding began to appear. Tlie Acting Prime Minister, Hau Eew Sul, jumped to his feet and said he would go and tell the Emperor of the talk of traitors. He was allowed to leave the room and was then gripped by the Japanese Secretary of the Legation, thrown in a side room and threatened with death. Marquis Ito went to him and asked, " Would you not yield if your Emperor commanded -you?" "No," said Hau Kew Sul, "not even then."

This was enough. The Marquis at once went to the Emperor. " Hau Kew Sul is a traitor," Re said. "He defies you and declares that he will not obey your comm-ands."

Meanwhile the remaining Ministers waited. Where was -their leader, the man who had urged them all to resist to tho death? A whisper went round that the Japanese had killed him. The harsh voices of tho Japanese screw more strident. " Agree with us and be rich, or oppose us and perish."

Pak Che Sun, the Foreign Minister, was the Last to yield. In the early hours of the morning commands were issued that the seal of the State should bo brought, and a treaty should be signed. But the custodian of the seal had received orders that even if his master commanded, the seal was not to he surrendered. for any such purpose. Special messengers had to be despatched to take the seal from him b.v force The Emperor asserts to this day that he did not consent.