Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham.
Seoul , July 24, 1894 .
Sir: Referring to my dispatches of June 25 and July 2 and 16, regarding military operations in Korea, I now have to inform you that at 4 a. in. on yesterday the Japanese forces broke into and took possession of the royal palace, a number of soldiers on both sides being killed. The King was Very courageous and stood his ground, quieting all by his dignified bearing.
The Japanese then compelled the presence of the ex-regent, father of the King, and bitter enemy of the Queen’s party, thus seeming to wish to pit one faction against another; we fear that assassination will result.
In his distress the King asked the foreign representatives to come to see him. We decided to do so, and later in the day we went in a body to the palace, the Japanese minister having arranged for us to pass hid strong guard. As a result of this meeting we decided to do the only thing we could, that is, to cable the facts to our respective Governments and ask their good offices. This will be the subject of another dispatch.
The city was in a great turmoil. Our legation began to fill up with refugees, and having no American guard our Koreans were unable to protect the gates; soon we had forty or more on the place and were unable to exclude others.
The telegraph to Chemulpo was cut, but the Japanese minister kindly agreed to forward a message for me to Captain Day, of the Baltimore, over his military line. I also sent a fast courier with a letter, having been furnished a Japanese military pass for him to go through the lines. The courier returned in twenty-four hours, bearing a letter from my agent in Chemulpo stating that both messages, had been received and delivered on board the Baltimore. I have no intimation from Captain Day, however, as to his intentions.
China must resent this insult, and-once her hordes begin to press across the northern border no force here will be able to stay the tide. The Chinese merchants have all left here, fearing the looting by their own troops that they say will surely follow their first success.
Captain Impey seems to think that we need no guard, as the Japanese will protect us. I am quite aware that the Japanese will do this. I have had only courtesy from them and have been courteous in return. At the same time I feel that I would be violating my instructions and laying myself open to severe and merited disapproval from my Government if I should ask for a Japanese guard when I may just as well apply to my own Government forces for protection. I could not do a thing more offensive to the Government to which I am accredited, while I would render our own position very precarious by so doing, since the Chinese when they come would certainly resent our having made the Japanese position so much stronger by such action.
I have eighty American men, women, and children, of high standing in their own country, under my care here, and I feel that I must use the greatest caution in preserving a strict neutrality in all these troubles. If I do not hear from Captain Day very soon I shall cable you for assistance.
I have, etc.,