Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1907 — INTRIGUES IN KOREAN CAPITAL. [ARTICLE]

INTRIGUES IN KOREAN CAPITAL.

Imperial Residence Hotbed es Dis--7" " senston and - Bickerings. ——-—— Telegrams from Seoul, Korea, siate that Intrigues on in extensive scale are now in progress. It la declared that the palace is a hotbed of Illicit plots and conspiracies. The placing on the throne of the new Emperor has aggravated the Jealousy between his mother, Princess Ming, and the mother of Prince Ying, each having a large following. This state of affairs is being taken advantage of by politicians, who are distrustful of one another. Disaffection is spreading rapidly and rlotlngs of the people throughout the peninsula are expected. The crisis provoked by the enforced abdication of the Emperor Is still full of menace. The two government araenals are guarded by Japanese soldiers, although the number is not large. They are under orders to explode tbe magazines If they find themselves unable to defend them. The Korean troops are frequently harangued by civilian agitators who take up their stand at the entrances to the barracks. Tlje Koreans possess 00,000 rounds of ammunition, of which General Hasegawa, who has only 2,300 Japanese troops In Seoul, has been unable to demand the surrender. Two disturbing factors are, first, the enigmatical presence In Seoul of Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashl, whose mission Is believed by tbe people the abduction of the former Emperor and his removal to Japan. Second, domicilary contact with the new Emperor and control and manipulation of the throne by the ex-Emperbr. Japan’s demands on the new Emperor probably will Include the revision of the Japanese-Korean treaty or new Korean constitution. In either case the power of the Japanese resident-general would be so extended that he can intervene In Korea’s internal administration, including the Judleiary. The demand also will be made that the court be distinguished from the administration, making confusion between the two impossible. Another plan Is to give the residentgeneral direct control of all departments and make the cabinet responsible to him, the Emperor retaining the power of formal veto. In any case the Korean military system will be abandoned. At the suggestion of Marquis Ito the various consulates have accepted Japanese guards.