KOREAN AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2146, 31 July 1907, Page 2

KOREAN AFFAIRS.

COURTS BEING REGENERATED. JAPANESE ANNEXATION DENIED. United Press Association —Copyrght SEOUL, July 29. The Marquis Ito is regenerating the tribunals of justice of Korea. He denies that Japan is annexing Korea. She was formerly adviser, but is now director of that country. J apan, he say 3, is proceeding slowly, though steadily.

Yi Hiung, whoso reign has come to an untimely end, was born in 1852, succeeded to the thruno in 1864, and assumed the title of Emperor in 189.His second wife was the daughter of an American missionary. Up to 1894 the monarchy was practically absolute though the suzerainty of China had been acknowledged. Japan, however, refused to acknowledge the suzerainty, and folio-wing on her victorious w T ar against China, the influence of the Island Empire spread to the penisular, and many administrative reforms were introduced. Under subsequent treaties, Japan guaranteed the integrity of the Empire, and Korea undertook to adopt Japanese advice with regard to administration. The war against Russia confirmed the influence of - the Tokio Govemment. The Emperor’s downfall would seem to be due to his vacillation. Plots against his life, and the life of some of his Ministers, who signed the protectorate convention with Japan, would indicate that- there was a - strong party opposed to Japanese domination, while on the other hand, his sending a deputation to The Hague to jnotest against Japanese encroachm(s*ts had alienated the support of the Tokio party. Yi Syek, who was born in 1874, is the successor to the throne. Viscount Hoyashi. the Japanese Foreign Minister, who has gone on a special mission to Seoul, was formerly the Japanese Envoy at the Korean capital. •