Mr. Sill to Mr.
Gresham.
No. 27.]
Legation of the
United States,
Seoul, July 18, 1894. (Received August
23.)
Sir: Referring to my four dispatches regarding
military operations in Korea, I have the honor to inform you that as no new
Chinese troops have been sent to Korea no fighting has as yet taken place.
More [Page 32] Japanese troops have arrived,
some 15,000 in all, with 3,000 coolies additional for transportation. The
Japanese merchant vessels have been taken off the lines between Japan and
Korea for use as transports, thus making communication with the outside
world very difficult. As a rule, the Japanese troops have conducted
themselves in an orderly manner, in this way and by the conciliatory conduct
of the Japanese authorities winning considerable favorable sentiment from
the Koreans.
One unfortunate act was the forcible interference with Her Britannic
Majesty’s representative near a Japanese camp, as I cabled you yesterday.
(See my dispatch of July 17.) I now have the honor to inclose the
correspondence on this subject exchanged between the Japanese and English
representatives.
In this connection I will also allude to a correspondence, copies of which I
inclose, between the Japanese and British Governments and their
representatives here relative to a charge made by Mr. Gardner to his
Government in London that Mr. Otori had demanded the dismissal of the
English naval instructor in the employ of this Government. I inclose a copy
of Mr. Otori’s suggestions [demands] for reforms, that you may judge for
yourselves as to where the blame should rest. The presentation of these
demands, or rather suggestions, by Mr. Otori, has been the chief occurrence
of importance since my last writing.
Mr. Otori had asked in audience (see my No. 16, June 29), that a council be
appointed to consider certain proposals he wished to make. As the
appointment of this council was delayed, the Japanese minister finally
demanded that the appointment be made in three days. I was asked for my
advice, which was that they grant the council with powers only to listen and
report upon the demands of Japan. The inclosure above was the result. To
this, also upon my advice, the Government made answer that while many of
these proposals were in accordance with the line of policy endeavored to be
pursued for the past ten years by Korea, they could not accept them now in
the face of the military occupation of their country. Meantime the King has
appointed a large and influential council of his own to consider reforms
that they should make themselves, and already they have decided to strike
off all needless taxes, such as have been levied during the past ten years a
personal perquisites.
We have had several meetings at the foreign office, in which the foreign
representatives endeavored to arrange for the neutrality of Chemulpo, a
proposition to which the Chinese readily consented, but the Japanese made
such conditions as would preclude any idea of neutrality.
Mr. Waeber, Russian representative here, whose departure for duty in Peking I
mentioned in my No. 12, June 1, has suddenly returned to his post here. I
appreciate his wisdom and long experience very highly.
I have also to report in this connection, the arrival, on the 12th, of the U.
S. S. Monocacy at Chemulpo. Commander Impey seems
desirous of cooperating with me in doing everything necessary for the due
and proper protection of American interests.
I hear a report from outside, but reliable sources, that the Baltimore arrived at Chemulpo yesterday.
We anticipate action on the part of the Chinese in a few days, as soon as the
imperial birthday ceremonies are completed. Chinese men and merchants have
nearly all left for China on orders from their officials.
The present trouble is bringing to the front some very useful young men
notably Ye Cha-yun, who was for four years in charge of the [Page 33] Korean legation at Washington. He has been
appointed an officer of the third rank and a vice-president of the foreign
office.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 27.]
Mr. Gardner to Mr.
Otori.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that this
afternoon I went for a walk a little to the right of Yang-wha chin road
with my wife, Mr. Brown, and my secretary, Mr. Fox.
When Mr. Fox and I were in front on a public path we were assaulted by
some Japanese in military uniform. One person spoke a little French and
asked our names. I demanded his name, and he gave it as Sous Lieutenant
T. Ishido. I then gave him my name and title in English and Chinese,
writing them down, with a protest that I yielded to force majeure. After
giving my name and title, without the slightest provocation, and though
I stated I would yield to force majeure and do what was wished, we were
dragged about 50 yards and I was all the time being struck with the
lists by Japanese wearing military uniforms.
I was then let go and joined my wife and Mr. Brown. About a quarter of an
hour afterwards I was on my way home along a public road when a quantity
of Japanese dressed in military uniform rushed forward, blocked the
public way, and stopped us, and again demanded my name. I recognized
some of them as some of the men who had previously assaulted me. I
yielded to force majeure and again gave my name, but in spite of that
Mrs. Gardner was hustled and her chair pushed from the road into the
ditch.
I have, etc.,
C. T. Gardner,
Her Majesty’s Acting
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 27.]
Mr. Otori to Mr.
Gardner.
Sir: Referring to your note of to-day’s date
respecting the assault said to have been made against you and some
others by some Japanese in military uniforms, I have the honor to assure
you in the first instance that I have taken immediate steps to
investigate the case.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 27.]
Mr. Otori to Mr.
Gardner.
His
Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Legation,
Seoul, July
17, 1894.
Sir: In reply to your note of the 15th instant,
about the matter of assault said to have been committed by some Japanese
in military uniform against you, your wife, and two other gentlemen, I
have this [Page 34] honor to forward yon
herewith the translations of the report sent me in answer to my inquiry
from General Oshima, in command of the Japanese armies in Korea.
He added, in sending that report to me, that there was no semblance of
any fact that the Japanese soldiers struck any foreigners with the fist,
that they have blocked the passage on the public way, and that no lady
was ever hustled, nor her chair pushed from the road into the ditch; in
fact, no lady having been perceived by the soldiers.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No.
27—Translation.]
Report of General Oshima to Mr. Otori in regard to
the complaint of Mr. Gardner, British acting consul-general at
Seoul.
About 6 o’clock in the afternoon of the 15th instant the sentinel posted
near the river in about 100 yards from the public road, on the west side
of Aben village, noticed two foreigners marching toward him from the
public road across the field to the southeasterly direction. The
sentinel, of the name of Maltashi, told them to stop and showed by
gesture; but as the foreigners proceeded in spite of the remonstrances
of the sentinel, seemingly to say that they did not understand the
Japanese, the latter, barred them with a rifle in hand, at the same time
reporting the matter to the tent. Meanwhile the foreigners forced aside
the sentinel and entered into the bivouac. Seeing what was going on
there, Corporals Arada, Machaca, and Adachi also came to stop them, but
they forced in.
When these foreigners got into the bivouac they were again told by a
sentinel that they were not allowed to be there, but they, maybe,
perhaps, because they could not understand what the sentinel said,
behaved in a heedless manner, without paying the slightest attention to
the remonstrance.
Lieutenant Gato then ran up to them from the tent, and stopped and asked
them why they have entered into the bivouac.
They said that they were taking a walk. Then the officer told them that
nobody is allowed to enter into the bivouac and asked them to go away at
once. The foreigners yet refused to listen.
Thereupon came Sublieutenant Tshido and Sergeant Tshii, who, with
Lieutenant Gato, made, all these efforts by words and gestures to tell
the foreigners to go away.
At last the foreigners were led out of the bivouac by a guide, after
having given the name hereto affixed.
My name is Chr. T. Gardner, C. M. G., Her Majesty’s consul-general,
Seoul.
[Inclosure 5 in No. 27.]
Mr. Otori to Mr.
Gardner.
His
Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Legation,
Seoul, July
16, 1894.
Sir: I have received this morning, to my great
surprise, a telegram from our minister for foreign affairs conveying the
telegram from His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s minister at London that
Her Britannic [Page 35] Majesty’s foreign
office received a telegram from you that I have demanded Korean
Government to dismiss the naval instructor to Korea, Mr. Collwell. I am
also informed that a telegram to the same effect has been sent by you to
Her Britannic Majesty’s legation in Tokyo.
I have now the honor to demand of you the immediate and thorough
contradiction of your telegram above mentioned, because I have never
made such a demand to the Korean Government.
I can not help in this connection expressing my deep regret for your
having taken such a hasty step in regard to an affair of such grave
importance without previously letting me know of the matter.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 6 in No. 27.]
Mr. Gardner to Mr.
Otori.
Sir: I have to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of yesterday’s date.
I would suggest that you should apply through usual, channels for any
information you may desire as to the communications made by me to my
Government.
I have, etc.,
C. T. Gardner,
Her Majesty’s Acting
Consul-General.
[Inclosure 7 in No. 27.]
paper presented to the three korean officials by
mr. otori.
The urgent demands for putting these things; into operation is made as
advice by my Government, hut your Government has a perfect right to take
the advice or not.
Matters to be discussed within three days
and to be decided and put into operation within ten days.
- I–A. Reorganization of the duties and Service of the several
officers in the various departments.
- The affairs concerning internal administration and external
relations according to the old system belong to the head government,
but the presidents of the six departments ought to have their
respective duties and responsibilities, and the old custom of having
one influential man to govern and interfere with the duties of the
others must be abolished.
- The persons comprising the household department of His Majesty
shall not be heard in the administration of national affairs, and
the organization of that department shall be distinctly separate
from any departments governing the nation.
- I–B. The management of commercial intercourse and friendly
relations with foreign nations is very important and must be
carefully administered; therefore, the minister of that department
must be a man who has great influence and can bear heavy
responsibility.
- I–F. The former method of selecting officers shall be abolished,
so that a large range may be opened for making selection of proper
persons.
- I–G. The payment of money for official appointment is the source
of corruption and must be decidedly prohibited and abolished.
- I–J. The custom of officers, whether high or low, hunting for
money or bribes must be prohibited by new laws.
- II–F. The public roads and highways must be widened and improved
and railroads built between Seoul and other important places to the
harbors and telegraphic lines connected between districts and
commercial places in every province, so that facilities for travel,
transportation, and communication may be afforded.
- The railroads and telegraph lines are to be discussed upon within
ten days, but work on the same to be begun when materials are
procured.
[Page 36]
Matters to be discussed and put into
operation within six months.
- I–C. In the reorganization of the different bureaus the nominal
ones ought to be abolished or combined with others.
- I–D. The present number of the districts is too great, so they
must be combined and new limits made to them, so that their number
will be diminished and the expenses of their administration lessened
without interfering with the good of the service.
- I–E. The superfluous officers, whether high or low, should be
dismissed.
- I–H. The amount of the salaries of each of the officers, high or
low, shall be fixed according to modern custom and made sufficient
for them to live properly.
- I–J. The custom of officers, whether high or low, of districts
levying money for private purposes must be stopped by newly enacted
laws.
- II–A. The receipt and disbursement of the Government must be
critically settled and examined according to a regular system of
accounts.
- II–B. The method of keeping books and accounts of receipt and
disbursement must be strict, clear, correct, and exact.
- II–C. The monetary system must be changed and definitely
fixed.
- II–E. The unnecessary minor expenses must be diminished and ways
of increasing the revenue must be sought out and examined.
- II–G. The custom-houses and business in the commercial harbors of
each province must be under the Government of Korea without any
interference of any other nation.
Matters to be discussed and put into
operation within two years.
- II–D. The farming land of each province must be clearly numbered
and surveyed so as to make a proper basis for taxation.
- II–. Surveying the farming land so as to make a proper basis for
taxation for the reformation of the national revenue.
- II–F. The public roads and highways must be widened and
improved.
- III–A. The ancient laws not in accordance with modern custom must
be abolished and the laws remodeled according to such new
custom.
- III–B. The administration of justice must be changed and the law
department must be made just and correct.
- IV–A. Military officers must be educated.
- IV–B. The old system of navy and army must be abolished, and the
soldiers drilled by the modern system of tactics to the extent that
the national revenue can afford.
- IV–C. The organization of the police-force system is very
important, so stations must be established in Seoul and every town,
and the rules for the police strictly fixed.
- V–A. Every branch, in education must be changed and modern methods
adopted, and primary schools established in each district, so that
all the children may be educated.
- V–C. Bright men from among the scholars must he selected and sent
to foreign countries to learn all branches of education and to
acquire knowledge of arts and sciences.
- [Note.—The above is an unofficial
translation, and while it may not be critically correct, it is
believed to be substantially so.]
