418 



JAPAN. 



hand, and Government pressure on the other, 

 doubtless precipitated this unexpected result. 

 After agrarian riots in the Saitama prefecture, 

 October 31, some members of the former Lib- 

 eral party were arrested on suspicion of in- 

 stigating the disorders, and a few even of high 

 treason. A Progressive party, which is still 

 vigorous, affords a healthful rivalry and offset 

 to the Conservatives. All eyes are now bent 

 forward to 1890, and political education is 

 vigorously conducted by an enterprising press, 

 despite rigorous censorship. 



In her foreign policy, Japan has as yet been 

 unable to obtain the revision of the treaties made 

 with the United States and European powers 

 at the opening of the country some years ago. 

 Her desire is that the tariff may be changed, 

 and the odious extra-territoriality clause be 

 expunged. These granted, she offers to open 

 the whole country to the unrestricted trade, 

 travel, and residence of foreigners. Negotia- 

 tions to this end have been carried on for a 

 decade, but thus far have been fruitless. 



Corea. Corea was the active theatre of Ja- 

 pan's foreign policy in 1884. A legation was 

 built in Se"oul in European style of architecture 

 and furniture, costing $80,000, with military 

 barracks attached. The pro- Japanese or Pro- 

 gressive party in Corea were greatly encour- 

 aged by Japan's friendly attitude, and vigorous 

 propagandism of Japanese ideas began in the 

 capital. On the llth of November, Mr. Take"- 

 zoye", the Mikado's envoy, made a communica- 

 tion at an audience with the King, by which 

 the Government of Japan remitted $400,000 

 of the half -million of indemnity due by Corea 

 to Japan, for the destruction of the legation 

 and murder of. Japanese in 1882. This remis- 

 sion of debt was made by the Mikado to be 

 ''devoted to the introduction of civilization 

 into the country." 



On the night of the 4th of December, the 

 strained relations between the rival Corean par- 

 ties broke out into open hostility of plots, coun- 

 ter-plots, assassination, and incen- 

 diarism. The Corean King asked 

 of Mr. Tak^zoye" the protection of 

 his legation guard, and at mid- 

 night the palace was guarded 

 within by Japanese troops and 

 surrounded by the Corean mili- 

 tary, who had been drilled partly 

 in Japanese and partly in Chi- 

 nese style. On the 5th, the Pro- 

 gressives, seizing the reins of gov- 

 ernment, filled the offices with 

 their own nominees. In the dis- 

 orders six of the expelled minis- 

 ters, Conservatives, were killed. 

 On the afternoon of the 6th, about the same 

 time that the Japanese were re-enforced by 

 a detachment of marines and sailors from 

 their man-of-war at the seaport, the Chinese 

 troops, encamped near Se~oul since 1882, joined 

 the Corean Conservatives and approached the 

 palace. Firing began between the jealous mili- 



tary; and the Corean troops -siding with the 

 Chinese, the Japanese retired in good order to 

 their legation, reaching it at midnight with 

 some loss. On the afternoon of the Yth, after 

 patiently withstanding a siege of stones, bul- 

 lets, and fire-brands, Mr. Tak6zoye" ordered a 

 retreat to Chimulpo, the seaport. With the 

 minister, and the artisans, numbering one hun- 

 dred, including women and children, in the cen- 

 ter, the Japanese infantry kept the mob and 

 native soldiery at bay, cut open the city gate, 

 and reached Chimulpo late next day, nearly 

 starved. The Mikado's ambassador, Count 

 Inouye", Minister of Foreign Affairs, left Tokio 

 December 22 with full powers. In Seoul, a 

 convention was agreed upon by which the Co- 

 reans agreed to pay $500,000 indemnity, re- 

 build the Japanese legation building which was 

 burned, and allow a garrison of 1,500 Japanese 

 troops in Seoul. 



With China, the Riu Kiu question, which had 

 been referred to a joint high commission of 

 the two powers, is not yet settled. The mat- 

 ter is one of boundary and possession, Japan 

 in this case having nine points of the law. The 

 issue, when apparently near settlement, was 

 hindered by China's action in referring the 

 solemn agreement of the joint high commis- 

 sioners to the revision of certain mandarins of 



JAPANESE SPADE. 



inferior rank. This action of China in thus 

 treating the work of so august a commission 

 renders a solution of the newer Corean ques- 

 tion more difficult. 



Railways. The improvement of the public 

 highways of the country proceeds apace with 

 the building of new railways. Many of the old 



