Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham.
Seoul, Korea, May 17, 1894. (Received June 12.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Korean Government is in great anxiety over the disturbed condition of affairs in three southern provinces, viz, in Cholla Do, Chung-ch’ong Do, and Kiong-sang Do. The people have risen against the bitter and merciless oppression of the governors and other officials. While the agitation is at present confined to the three provinces named above, Cholla Do being the most turbulent, the same conditions prevail elsewhere in the Kindgom, and a few successes on the part of the people such as now reported from Cholla Do will stimulate them to like disorder and bloodshed elsewhere and to a general uprising against all officials.
[Page 18]I have acquainted Admiral Skerrett with the situation and forwarded to him a request from the King that he send a ship from his squadron to the port of Chemulpo, at the same time suggesting that I would telegraph him in case the need should become more urgent.
At the earnest request of the Government, I have also called in the American missionaries from the interior, as the Government informed me that they might not be able to protect them outside of the treaty ports.
So far the movement seems to be directed wholly against the oppressive officials, some of whom, with their families, have been put to death. Others have had houses and property destroyed, and after being beaten have been driven from their districts. The Government has sent a considerable body of troops to the scene of the disorder, but they seem to have neither scared nor hurt anyone, and no one here expects them to be of any use. I believe that more frequent visits by our ships would have a salutary moral effect, both upon the people and the Government. An occasional demonstration is needed to keep Koreans and others in mind of the continued existence of the United States of America. Ho American ship has visited Korean ports for many months. Mr. Ye Charyun, formerly chargé d’affaires at Washington, has just now left this legation, after earnestly asking that our ships visit Korean waters more frequently.
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I have, etc.,