No. 306.
Mr. Dinsmore to Mr. Bayard.
Seoul Corea , July 1, 1888. (Received August 20.)
Sir: For further information with regard to the recent critical disturbance in Seoul, reported in my No. 115, dated June 25, I have the honor to state that on Friday, the 29th instant, at 4 o’clock, Lieutenant C. D. Galloway, U. S. Navy, left this legation with the force under his command to return to the United States steamer Essex, at Chemulpo, [Page 450] there appearing to exist no further necessity for their presence. The forces sent from the French and Russian vessels have also returned.
I beg to make favorable mention of the cheerful and energetic promptness with which Commander Jewell and the officers of his command responded to the request of the legation for necessary assistance and of the perfect deportment of the men during the whole period of their landing.
I am aware of the Department’s objections to the landing of a naval force ordinarily, and was reluctant to ask it without express permission, but the emergency in the situation I have reported seemed to fully justify it and not to admit of the delay necessary to receive instructions by cable.
No objection has been made by the Corean Government and I am firmly convinced that much good has resulted which will extend beyond the present time. Having been informed of portentous threats against our people made by the populace, I addressed a communication on the 18th ultimo to the president of the foreign office, of which I inclose a copy, urging the necessity for action on the part of the Govenment to allay the excitement and remove the unjust suspicions against foreigners, and suggested the publication of a proclamation asserting the falsity of the rumors. On the following night, at 12 o’clock, I received a short note in reply submitting a proclamation proposed for publication.
Its terms were such as would tend to increase rather than cause a subsidence of the disorder.
On the 19th, by common consent, all the foreign representatives except Mr. Yuan Sü Kwai, the representative of China, who had been ill since the beginning of the excitement, met at this legation and formulated such a proclamation as seemed required by the situation, and in a joint note to the foreign office respectfully submitted it for publication, if approved. On that night it was posted on the city gates and in other public places. It was first read by the people on Wednesday morning, the date of the arrival of the different naval detachments, and doubtless produced a good effect. A copy of this proclamation, with English translation, is inclosed.
His Majesty the King also caused to be published, over the royal seal, a very practical and effective proclamation denying that foreigners had any participancy in the taking of children, and offering liberal rewards for the capture and conviction by satisfactory evidence of the kidnapers; but upon the condition that he would impose a fine equal in amount to the reward offered against any person causing an arrest without evidence.
It is generally believed that innocent persons were killed by the mob and that if abduction of children was practiced at all the facts were greatly exaggerated.
The incidents of the affair are identical with those precedent to the massacre of foreigners at Tientsin, China, in June, 1870, in which the French consul and more than twenty foreign residents were murdered. Thursday, the 21st ultimo, was the anniversary of the Tientsin massacre. On Tuesday, the 19th, the excitement reached its highest point accompanied by threats of attacks on foreigners and a disposition of panic on the part of natives in the service of our residents. The marines left Chemulpo in the evening of this day, arriving here the next morning as heretofore reported.
The general disposition of the native masses towards foreigners as manifested by their universal respect and kindness in the past is wholly inconsistent with the recent events. Our people have traveled in the [Page 451] interior of the kingdom singly and in small parties and have been invariably treated with kindness and hospitality.
We go through the city at all hours of the day or night, frequently unattended and without hesitation.
I have, myself, in the daytime frequently gone on foot and without an attendant into the remotest and most unfrequented quarters of the city and have never received the slightest indignity, but on the contrary kindness and cheerful respect. There is still a feeling of ancient origin against the Japanese, and the inhabitants of the interior, unfamiliar with Western people, sometimes mistake them for Japanese. It was that confusion which caused the attack upon and pursuit of Lieutenant Foulke in 1884. In that affair only the Goreans, Chinese, and Japanese were involved. There were no accusations against Americans nor Europeans.
Quiet seems now to be fully restored. The U. S. S. Essex sails to-day from Chemulpo, leaving the U. S. S. Juniata on duty there.
I have the honor, etc.,