ITO'S ASSASSIN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 7

ITO'S ASSASSIN.

HIS OBJECT WAS TO AYENGE KOREA, SEVERAL SHOTS FIRED, TWO OTHERS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. ■ (By Tclcgrapli-Prcss Association-ConyrigliU London, October 20. Tho Korean who ; assassinated Prince Ito (until recently Japanese Resident-General in Korea) explains that ho wanted to ovengo his country. Prince Ito was visiting Harbin, Manchuria, to negotiate with M. Kokovtse&V Rnssian Minister for Finance, respecting the Mnnchurian Railway. The Prince had just left tho railway carriage, and was walking with M. Kokovtseff and several Russian officers past the guard of honour, when tho assassin fired, several shots from behind. Prince Ito was hit thrice, .with fatal results. The shots seriousty wounded M. Tanaka, manager of the South -. Manchurian Railway,' and M. Kawakani, Japanese Consul-General. Another official was slightly wounded. Tho assassin was arrested. It is believed that the assassination was the outcome of an organised plot. Thrco-suspected Koreans were arrested, yesterday.

KOREANS' ADMISSION^ RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT'S REGRET. (Rcc. October 27, 10.35'p.m.j , London, October 27. The tlfree Koreans who were arrested on suspicion confess that they ,came to Manchuria for.the purpose of arranging the assassination, of Prince Ito. , The murderer'stated that: Prince Ito, while in KoTea, had caused several persons closely, connected with himself to be executed. Prince Ito died twenty minutes after he was -wonnded. Within three hours tho body had started for Japan_ ■ -The Japanese received'the. news with calmness. The assassination is not the result of any modification of the. Japanese government's policy of conciliation in Korea. The Russian is aghast at the murder, occurring, as it did; oh E !ssiah-con-trollod territory, and expresses the hope that it will not compromise the ■ prospect of a friendly understanding which Prince Ito came to Manchuria to bring about.'

CHARGES AGAINST JAPAN IN KOfIEA, -.'. THE DEFENCE. .'What ''The Times"-'called "tho ablest statement of the Korean problem which has appeared since Japanese influence became painmount in tho country," was published lost year rhe book is- entitled 1 "In 'Korea with Marquis Ito, and is by Dr. Ladd., "Tho Times" review states that special interest attaches, tp Dr. Ladd's. discussion of the many charges of oppression and maladministration -brought against the Japanese JJe admits that the' swarms of low-class Japanese who entered the country during and after the lost war 'cheated and maltreated the Koreans'; and his remark that the treatment the people received was cot so .bad as ,the : indignities they had suffered from .their own countrymen for hundreds of years is no real extenuation. :v ; ~ Use of Torture: Disproved.>■'■•' ."■•■',■ ' ' "His.answers to some of the more recent specific allegations, however, appear entirely adequate.-- Tho suggestion, for instance, that the Japanese' were 'reviving* the use: of- torture in judicial inquiries is amply disproved. At the'time when it -was made, the Japaneso had not interfered in the triads of Korean prisoners, and under the Korean law torture was legal, and was ,constantly, practised by the Koreans themselves. Dr. .Ludd says the charge that the military authorities appropriated land for military i and railway purposes to an unreasonable degree is to.some extent', true'; .but the amount of land originally staked off was afterwards greatly reduced,' and a fair price was paid, 'in the majority''of cases.' Japanese sharpers' obtained land'in'unjust and op-' pressivo ways, but often.with the connivance of corrupt Koreans. The accusation that'tho labour on' thei Japanese military railway was 'enforced'by personal cr.uejtics, and. paid for at unfair is partially .'true, but greatly exaggerated. The fault usually lay with the interpreters,, sub-contractors, and local olbcials, who formed combinations, paid the labourers one-fourth of their wages, and- pocketed the balance. Similar peculations ■; by subordinates are npt unknown in Indian famine camps; and they are very difficult to detect' Again, during' tho: war, the Japanese were pajing the Korean contractors full market : prices for provisions, while. the rascally contractors. wero compelling' the people- to supply them for no^ thing.'-' •.'■■'-'':._"''•.".: .;..;■' ://,■:,:'.', :.■';-'.. i';■ Alleged Unprovoked Killing. "As to the unprovoked,killing of Koreans,by Japaneso, Dr .Ladd, thinks that at no tinio lias there been! any considerable 1 number of iuch cases, and that murders of Japanese havo been ' far. more: numerous.' He!is quite entitled to remind us, n3 he does, that uncorroborated' Korean testimony is almost,invariably untrustworthy. Every traveller in, Korea has. shared his experience in that respect." Dr. Ladd's description of the ex-Emperor's peculiar methods of intrigue is typical of the .whole' race. ■' We can readily • accept, tho; ropeated assurances of Dr. Ladd concerning the" sincerity of the /Marquis Ito's aims: in Korea, not only on account of that statesman's past record, but also because a, policy of conciliation ■■'■ is plainly tho only course for Japan to .pursue.;.-. No doubt takes have boon made,'and will continue to be made; and it will probably be a long time before the: country, is entirely pacified."., ': It is interesting to recall .that, last year,;-in a speech in the Korean capital, Ito was reported' as saying that Japan's peaceful development :of Korea was ; intended to secure! to. Koreans their independence. The; Koreans would then become Japau'6 allies. , '-.\ ...