landing of the troops as were the Russian and other foreign diplomats. Japan admits that she attached and destroyed the Russian warships in the harbor of Chemul-po, but advances the argument that since she had already landed troops it had ceased to be a neutral port. This is another quibble. Stripped of its verbiage, it assumes that since the neutrality of the port had already been violated by landing troops, it was no longer a neutral port. Meanwhile, until the Japanese Admiral got ready to attack them, the Russian ships were blockaded in the harbor. Japan denies that she interfered with telegraphic communication, and that she stopped telegrams from the Russian Government to Mr. Pavloff. I have already given fully my reasons for believing this denial to be absolutely false. Japan evades the charge of seizing Russian ships before diplomatic relations had been severed, but does not deny it. It is undoubtedly true. Japan denies that her representative informed the Korean Emperor of Japan's intention to administer the affairs of the country, and warned him not to resist. This is another quibble. Japan did at once assume the administration of the country, and still holds it absolutely. As to the facts surrounding the departure of the Russian officials from the country, there is a question of veracity as to the details between the Japanese Minister on one side, and the French and Russian ministers on the other. I have not the slightest doubt, from what I could learn in Korea, that, whatever may have been the method employed, the Japanese compelled the
