December 19, 1895.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Norway, with no navy to enforce common civility from them.
I left Port Arthur for Chefoo, but unfor- tunately the Nanking became a total wreck on some reefs to the north of " English Island;', owing to the wind and weather, but principally to her disabled engines.
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When
blackened and burned, were found shoved into & narrow interstice between the bulk- head and deck, just above the com- pradore's bunk. Several beams were splintered and scorched, the partition between the com- pradore's room and the next cabin was blown down; the deck was raised a couple of inches, for a length of about 35 feet, and other damage was done. The bag contained Chinese gun- powder, beyond a doubt, probably about six pounds, but no trace of the manner in which it was placed in position, who put it there, or how it was fired has as yet been discovered. There can be little question that it was a deliberate attempt to blow up the compradore by some one ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE PALACE others at the disposal, had nevertheless a strong on board who had a spite against him. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police here and the most searching enquiries will be made into the whole matter.-China Gazette.
Japanese, the Russian, the Li, and the Min, not counting the American element, which has heretofore stood aloof from the others in all political chicanery and has generally worked
interests. exclusively for its own General Le Gendre first arrived in Korea, neither the Japanese nor the Russians had Had it not been for the want of courtesy and a voice in the government nor could they The lack of rendering such assistance as one civil- secure any important posts therein. ised nation might expect from another. I have Americans taught the Koreans their re- no doubt that the Norwegian steamer Nanking|ligion and trained them in the mysteries of would still be afloat.
commerce and war, and thus brought about the formation of a philo-American party which, without having any power of oppressing the
influence over the community.
THE LUSSIANS TO WINTER IN KYAOCHAU BAY.
We understand that the Russian fleet intends making Kyao-chau Bay its headquarters this winter. The Chinese authorities object. as they had nice little arrangements made for fortifying that very desirable harbour. Our Chefoo friends will thus lose their very profit- able coaling business, as Kyao-chan is as near Shanghai as Chefoo.-China Garette.
THE CHINESE REOCCUPY PORT
ARTHUR.
The Chinese Government transport Chinhai left Chefoo on the night of the 5th instant for Port Arthur, with three Tientsin Tastais and General Sun on board to take over the port from the Japanese on the 10th instant. By the same steamer the Commissioner of Customs sent over lightkeepers Harp and Wulf and four Chinese to take charge of the Laotiehshan Light, which we understand will be exhibited this year till the 31st inst.. instead of, as usual, being extinguished on the 5th December.-- China Gazette.
THE WRECK OF THE “NANKING'
AND THE ALLEGED JAPANESE DISCOURTESY,
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Mr. Niels Sorensen, late master of the Nor- wegian steamer Nanking, writes to the Shang. hai Mercury from Chefoo under date of the 4th
inst.:-
I shall feel greatly obliged to you if you could spare a little space in the columus of your valu- able paper for this letter, which may also prove of some interest to your readers.
knots.
AT SEOUL.
At 2. a.m. on the 28th November some of the old disbanded bodyguard soldiers at Seoul at- tempted to force their way into the palace, but were repulsed by the remaining men of the old Kunren-tai (disciplined soldiers).
A Tokyo telegram of the 4th December the China Gazette says:-It now transpires that the chief instigator in the plot to seize the palace at Seoul and assassinate the Cabinet Ministers was Li Han-shin, ex-Minister of Commerce and Agriculture. Li Hanshin has been a guest at the Russian Legatou ever since the tragic events of October 8th, and he has been in close contact with the Russian officials. His attempt was made on the palace on the 28th, as I have previously informed your readers, and was joined by a certain portion of the palace guards, name- ly, the Kunren-tai, or foreign disciplined force, but as stated before, the premature discovery of his plans by the Government ended in his defcat. It has now transpired that he fled on board a Russian man-of-war, the name of which is given as the Otrajinji, which left immediately for an unknown destination. This circumstance has given the affair a far greater importance than it otherwise would hate possessed.
WHY AMERICANS ASSISTED THE REBELS.
Many circumstances seem to indicate that Kores's latest revolution was not left exclusively in the hands of the natives any more than were of the all
upheavals the other former same kind within the limits of the capital. Unlike most previous disturbances of the sort, it would seen that certain Americans were among the leaders of the abortive effort to overthrow the puppet but still extant govern- ment, and the Tokyo Asahi has come out with a so-called explanation of the causes which may have inspired certain United States citizens to participate in the refolt.
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It says that, as well as a number of native Koreans, a certain member or number of mem- bers of the Russian Legation and some Ameri- cans resident in Seoul were implicated in the revolt, and the names of the Americans are said to be known. The object of the rising was assuredly the overthrow of the existing government, and the participation of Americans On 12th November, 1895, at about noon, I an- in such an object is not to be wondered at. It chored some distance off Port Arthur (as I had
seems, says our confemporary, that during the no special chart for that harbour) with the Nor-Queen's regime, and while the power of the Mins was in the ascendant, a certain American resi- wegian steamer Nanking in distress, having lost two blades of her propeller, rendering her all dent in Seoul obtained concessions to work the but helpless, causing her to steer very badly, and gold mines at King Sangdo and elsewhere reducing her full speed to from three to four which are the property of the royal family. I went on shore in one of the ship's After the disturbance of 8th October last, lost and no boats and produced all my ship's papers to the however, when the Queen was
one knew her whereabouts, the power of the authorities and told them in what distressed con-
Mins declined, and the reins of government dition the steamer was.
practically fell into the hands of the Tai-won- kun, Kim-hong-chip, and other leaders of their party, who proposed a measure cancelling the concession granted to the American in question, on the ground that the extending of such a privilege to a foreigner was dis advantageous to the interests of the royal household of the kingdom. The news of this intrigue, which seriously imperilled their in- terests, reached the ears of the Americans con- nected with the scheme simultaneously with that announging the dissatisfaction of the dis- banded Ji-eitai, o palace guards, at the present Cabinet, and their anxiety to rise and over- throw it. The Americans thereupon encouraged the soldiers to rebel, with a view to bringing the Mins back to power and confirming their cou-
repeatedly asked their permission to enter the inner harbour, only to enable me to dip the ship to temporarily repair her propellor. I told them how I had once eutered the naval port of Brest under similar circumstances, and Could not give enough praise for the good will and speedy assistance rendered by the French naval authorities. But all this was of no avail with these Eastern gentlemen of fin de siècle civilisation. No help. no assistance-nothing was offered; in fact. I was told I had better go away, for if able to reach their port, I might also reach some other. This no doubt was meant for politeness; but really I should like to know if these Japanese would have dared to refuse what I requested to any ship (under similar circumstances) flying the flag of one of the Great Western nations, or that of the U.S.cessions. of America. My belief is, those would-be- gentlemen did not deem it necessary to show any consideration to such a small country as
The Asali goes on to compare the wheel of events in Seoul to the changes of a kaleidoscope. There are four parties or factions there-the
Since the death of the Queen certain Ameri- cans have been residing in the royal palace on the pretext of being there for the protection of the King, but such action on their part is not in conformity with the policy of their own Government.
In the programe for the reform of the Korean Government, proposed by the reform apa faction, was found a pro- party vision to the effect that it is not advisable to engage any foreigner as an adviser and to pay him a very high salary. This clause greatly offended the American party, and its members have since been devising a plan for maintain- ing their personal interests and influence. The disturbance of the Ji-citai men on 28th Novem- ber may very likely have originated in the heads of such Americans, as some of them were found among the rioters.—Japan Advertiser.
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1st December.
The latest move in Seoul rather inclines one to believe that we are approaching the end of the reign of terror" which we have been under ever since the Japanese drove the Chinese from Korea. On the 26th inst, the King for once The foreign representa- tives were invited to the palace and the King spoke his own mind. announced publicly in their presence that he had nothing to do with the so-called edict formerly promulgated degrading the Queen, and that the recent laws issued were issued without his con- sent. He therefore would issue an edict saying that as the Queen had never been degraded she should still be considered as occupying the position of Queen. The Japanese paper worded it
somewhat differently, saying that the Queen would be restored to her former rank; but ac- cording to the King's words the edict was illegal and hence there really was no degradation, and if there was no degradation there could be no restoration.
The Minister of War, Cho Hwe Yön, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kwon Yong- These two chin, were to be dismissed. individuals, it will be remembered, were the leaders of the Cabinet for some time and of
course creatures of the Japanese. It will also be remembered that ever since the 8th of October the foreign representatives refused to
While recognise the Government as long as the Minister of War was not dismissed. the King was making this announcement to the foreign representatives in the audience hall, Cho, the Minister of War, was strutting about outside in a Japanese uniform covered with gold lace and a cocked hat. But as soon as the news reached him he fled precipitately, only taking about ten minutes' time to change his uniform for a suit of Korean clothes. He has not been heard of since and is now in hiding.
The night following there was a disturbance between the old palace guards and the Japanese trained troops. The latter, it will be remem-` bered, replaced the former after the massacre of the 8th of October. A number of the old palace guards forcibly entered the palace with the intention of assassinating the Prime Minister, also a creature of the Japanese. The attempt failed, however, and the leaders were arrested. There is a report current this morn ing that two of the Ministers were assassinated, but I very much doubt the truth of it. I think however, that it is the beginning of the end of Unpanese misrule (yclept reform) in Korea,
The Japanese are beginning to withdraw their troops from Korea. Yesterday thirty soldiers left for Japan by a transport. These arrived in Chemulpo a few days previously froin some- where in the interior.-N. C. Daily News corre spondent.
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