Korea's Fight for Freedom

Prince after the abdi

a from 1906 to 1908, and

policies until 1910. It

he Japanese a

s and still more by the character of the settlers from his own land. The necessities of Japanese Imperial policy compelled the infliction of much injustice on the Korean people. The determination to plant as many Japanese on Korean soil as possible involved the expropriation of Korean interests and the harsh treatment of many small Korean landowners and tenants. The powerful and growing commercial interests of Japan

ticed it. A large majority of the Japanese immigrants acted in a way fatal to the creation of a policy of good-will. The average Japanese regarded the Ko

the favourite Oriental

r, 1909, Prince Ito, when making a journey northwards, was killed by another Korean at Harbin. Both of the murderers were nominal Christia

e at the sufferings of their people. I can well understand the intense anger that must

h as justice directs. But for individuals, or groups of individuals to take such punishment into their own hands i

h

he world revolts at the idea of the individual or the irresponsible group of

ack. They place themselves on or below t

now, because they have had no full opportunity of learning, what the other has had to say for himself.

sassination-I prefer to give it its simpler name, murder-is wrong, whatever the supposed excuse, fundame

the man who had handed his country over to Japan. For some time the military party in Japan had been clamouring for a

1904 was Minister of War in the fight against Russia, earning his Viscountcy for brilliant services. Strong, relentless, able, he could only see one thing-Japan and the glory of J

oing to stamp the last traces of nationality out of existence. Where Ito had been soft, he would

icial plan was followed. The Seoul Press, now the lickspittle of the great man, gave good value for

ow an intense dissatisfaction against the new state of things is fermenting at present among a section of the Koreans. It is possible that if left unchecked, it may culmi

se men are dissatisfied because of their failure to satisfy them.... She must be prepared to sacrifice anybody who offers obstacles to her work. Japan has hitherto dealt with Korean malcontents in a lenient way. She has lea

all very well in the hands of such a statesman as the late Prince Ito," it declared. "But failing

y began to happen. Four Japanese papers were suspended in a night. An item in their columns was objectionable. Let others be very careful. The police system was reversed. The gendarmerie were to be brought back again in full force. Every day brought its tale of arrests. F

rmes were everywhere. Spies seemed to catch men's thoughts. Mo

This man was to be made a peer; he had served Japan well. This man, if he and his kin we

students. But the student who spoke bravely, even behind closed doors to-

efusing to see all callers. They feared assassination, for they had sold their country. Policemen and troops wer

eneral would now be Governor-General. The name of the nation was to be wiped out-henceforth it was to be Chosen, a province of Japan. Its people were to be remade into a lesser kind of Japanese, and the more adept they were in making the change, the less they would

in the cause of his nation's independence," they said tauntingly to the Koreans. But the people's leaders k

Man after man, scholars, old soldiers, men who loved Korea, committed suicide, aft

mi-Government organ. "The nation obviously has no leaders competent to execute and direct a crusade in the cause of independence. Whether tha

was in itself an acknowledgment that the Japanese administrat

aged for more than four years since the conclusion of the Agreement of 1905, the existing system of government of that country has not proved entir

time to ensure the safety and repose of foreign residents, it has been made abundantly c

rds, extra-territoriality was abolished. The Government agreed to maintain the old Korean tariff for ten years both for goods coming in from Japan and abroad. This was a conces

perors of Japan and Korea, as though the surrender of their l

or of Japan and His M

the special and clo

ntries and to ensure

nced that these objec

Korea to the Empire o

of such annexation an

r Plenipotentiari

ror of Japan, Viscou

ident G

e Emperor of Korea

President

erence and deliberati

ing ar

ty the Emperor of Ko

His Majesty the Emp

eignty over the

ession mentioned in the preceding Article, and consents t

ial Highness the Crown Prince of Korea, and Their Consorts and Heirs such titles, dignity and honour as are appropriate t

e members of the Imperial House of Korea and their heirs, other than those mentioned in the precedi

and monetary grants upon those Koreans who, on account of meritor

overnment and administration of Korea, and undertakes to afford full protection for the property an

in the public service of Japan in Korea those Koreans who accept the new regime

sty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Emperor of

r word, although she had repeatedly pledged herself to maintain and preserve the nation and the Royal House. Such arguments, unde

rule ... the

l take who h

hall KEEP