an open seaport in Manchuria, privileges of railroad extension, etc. A Shanghai dispatch dated March 2 even professed to give the details of a treaty now being conveyed by Li Hung Chang to Moscow, which, it is said, will be formally ratified by the czar on the approaching occasion of his coronation. The rumor awaits official confirmation; but it seems certain that a close entente has been reached, which has immensely increased the weight of Russian influence at Pekin, if it has not made the Celestial empire practically a vassal of Russia.

The evacuation of the Leao-Tong peninsula was reported to have been completed in the latter part of December, 1895.

Revolt in Korea.-On February 11 another coup d'état was effected at Seoul, which has most important bearing upon the future destiny of Korea, inasmuch as it has resulted in actual Russian intervention for the maintenance of order in the Hermit Kingdom. It will be remembered that the uprising of October 8 last removed from the scene of activity the greatest enemy of Japanese influence in Korea, the queen. The officials about the king were at once changed against his wishes, and a cabinet forced upon him composed of men in sympathy with the Japanese schemes of reform. The inner history of what followed is not yet, and may never be, fully known to outsiders; but it is known that a counter-revolution was carried out on February 11. The king and the crown prince were spirited away (with the assistance of the court ladies, it is said) to the Russian legation. A proclamation was issued ordering the arrest of all members of the cabinet. Some fled; others found temporary shelter in the Japanese barracks; but several, including the prime minister, were captured and executed. The king at once reconstructed the ministry to his own liking, but continued to remain under the protection of the Russian legation.

In view of the disordered state of affairs, a detachment of Russian marines was landed at Chemulpo, and marched to Seoul, for the protection of the Russian legation and the restoration of order. Russian soldiers were stationed at other points also. Landing parties of British, American, and French marines were promptly sent to Seoul to guard the interests of their respective countries.

The condition of Korea has since been one of great unrest. Fighting has occurred at several points between the Koreans and the Japanese; and the political outlook at the end of March, in view of the rivalries of Japan and Russia,

is very uncertain. It is true that in 1886 China obtained a promise from Russia never to occupy any port of Korea. The obtaining of this promise was a condition upon which England consented to evacuate Port Hamilton, which she had occupied as a counter-move to Russia's projected occupation of a Korean port. But it is also true that the relations of Russia and China have now changed, and that the latter may grant release from the pledge if she chooses, thus strengthening Russia's position on the Pacific seaboard. Such an event would be fraught with menace to Japan. Great Britain, however, regards the possibility with great complacency. Says the London Graphic:

"Foreign intervention (in Korea) would seem to be inevitable. Now, there are two claimants to the reversion of the emperor, Li Hsi— Russia and Japan-and the question is to whom Great Britain should give her support. This question resolves itself into an inquiry as to the direction in which our interests preponderate, and this certainly points in the direction of Russia. Sooner or later Russia is bound to have ice-free access to the Pacific, and Mr. Balfour has already acknowledged-no doubt on behalf of the government-that Great Britain could raise no further objections to her legitimate aspiration in this respect. This fact postulated, the question arises, Where should Russia have this access? A glance at the map will show that she must have it either in Korea or on the Leao-Tong peninsula, and it is undoubtedly to our advantage that she should have it in the former region rather than in the latter. As for Japan, she has all the access to the sea that she requires, and she has no imperative excuse for desiring to extend her dominion to the Asiatic mainland. But even if her claims were more valid than they are, Great Britain would have to remember that good relations with Russia are of far greater importance to her than the friendship of the Mikado.”

*

Contradictory rumors were spread about the middle of January concerning the alleged murder of the queen on October 8, 1895 (Vol. 5, p. 827). It was said that she had escaped at the time of the attack on the palace, and was in hiding. It was also said that the object of the émeute of November 28 (Vol. 5, p. 828),* which seems to have been chiefly instigated by Russian officials, was to free the king from the influence of the pro-Japanese ministry under the Tai-Won-Kun, and to restore the queen. The preponderance of present evidence, however, points to the conclusion that the queen was really murdered on October 8 as alleged.

The Japanese judicial investigation into the facts of the uprising of October 8 ended about January 21 in the ac

*NOTE--It appears that the American missionary. Dr. Underwood, did not actively participate in the attempt of November 28. His severe strictures upon the course of the ministry, however, had no doubt served to encourage the discontented Koreans; and our former statement (Vol. 5, p. 829) requires to be modified to that extent.

1st Qr., 1896.

quittal of General Miura, formerly Japanese minister at Seoul, and the other Japanese officials charged with complicity in the plot. The examination, as recorded in the Tokio Yomiura, went to show that the whole coup d'état of October 8 was carried out by the Tai-Won-Kun, with the assistance of Japanese troops and the knowledge of Japanese officials; but the evidence implicating the latter in the actual committal of murder was regarded as insufficient by the court.

Formosa Opened to Commerce.-On February 1 Japan published her formal declaration to the treaty powers, of the accession of Formosa and the opening of the island to foreign commerce, as follows:

"Order and tranquillity having been established in Formosa, the Japanese government grants the following privileges and facilities to the subjects, citizens, and vessels of treaty powers being in or resorting to Formosa:

"1. The subjects and citizens of powers having commercial treaties with Japan may reside and trade in Formosa at Tamsui, Keelung, Anping, Taiwanfu, and Takao; and the vessels of such powers may visit and carry cargo to and from the ports and harbors of Tamsui, Keelung, Anping, and Takao.

2. Notwithstanding the exceptional condition of affairs in Formosa, the treaties of commerce and navigation and the tariffs and arrangements existing and now in force between Japan and the other powers, are, so far as they are applicable, extended to the subjects, citizens, and vessels of such powers being in or resorting to Formosa, it being at the same time understood that all persons availing themselves of the above enumerated facilities'shall obey all decrees and regulations which may at any time be in force in Formosa."

In spite of the above proclamation, disturbances have continued in certain parts of the island, instigated presumably by discontented Chinese subjects. Numerous murders of Japanese constables and school teachers were reported in January, all marked by shocking barbarities; and by the middle of February the forces of the insurgents had reassumed considerable proportions, pecessitating the renewal of a vigorous campaign for their suppres

sion.

The Partition of Siam.-On January 15 a treaty was signed at London, settling (finally, it is hoped) the long-disputed question of the French and English spheres of influence in Indo-China.

In a word, Siam proper will now be confined to the valley of the Menam under the guaranteed protection of both powers, acquiring an international status, as M. Berthelot, the French foreign minister, declared, analogous to that of Belgium in Europe; the vexatious project of the establishment of a buffer state is abandoned; and the MeKong river is recognized as the sole boundary between French and English territory north of Siam to the frontier of China.

The most important provision undoubtedly is that which marks out for special treatment the portion of Siam comprised within the drainage area of the Menam and of the coast streams of a corresponding longitude. Within this area the two powers undertake: (1) Not to operate with their military or naval forces, except so far as they may do it in concert for any purpose which may be required for maintaining the independence of Siam; (2) not to acquire within that area any privileges or commercial facilities which are not extended to both of them. This secures to Siam tranquillity in the most fertile and wealthy portion of her

dominions.

Beyond this main provision as regards the Menam valley, the chief points to be noted are:

1. The Chinese frontier is moved south, including the state of KiangHung.

2. Mong-Hsing, east of the Me-Kong, recently held by Great Britain, is handed over to France.

3. The special clauses of the treaty of October 3, 1893, between France and Siam (Vol. 3, p. 731), applying to the zone of twenty-five kilometres on the right bank of the MeKong and to the navigation of that river, are recognized.

4. The territories west and east of the "Menam valley" of the treaty are in effect British and French "spheres of influence," though it must be noted that Lord Salisbury not only does not label

them as such, but expressly lays down the complete title and rights of the Siamese as regards those areas.

The general gain to both France and England is in removing a subject of long contention, and facilitating the opening up of southwest China, the greatest unopened market in the world.

The specific advantages to England are thus summed up: 1. Acontinuous frontier along the eastern coast of the Indian ocean. 2. The ability to connect Burmah with China by a railway passing entirely through British territory either via Moulmein and Raheng, or cia Rangoon and Karenni, passing up the valley of the Me-Kong into the populous part of Yunnan; and to connect the Burmese with the Siamese and future Chinese systems of railway.

3. An increase to British dominions about equivalent to those of France under the agreement, and including large fertile plains, forests of teak and other valuable timber, and enormous mineral wealth, particularly in the Malay peninsula.

4. The saving of this great and valuable territory from the risk of foreign encroachment.

The advantages accruing to France are:

1. The annexation of one half of the remainder of Siam, containing vast plains and valuable fisheries, forests, and mines. Twothirds of the Siamese dominions will thus have fallen within recent years to France.

2. The acquirement of the above territory as a close market for French manufacturers.

3. The acquisition of the portion of the Bangkok-Korat railway within the French sphere of influence, and the ability to extend that railway to the Me-Kong and to the French port of Saigon.

4.

The acquisition of Chantaboon and other seaports on the gulf of Siam, whence railways can be extended for the development of the Cambodian provinces of French Indo-China.

On the whole the treaty is disappointing to the English people for political reasons. The London Graphic says regarding it:

us.

"The agreement is, in many respects, distinctly unfavorable to Still there are points in our favor, for our commercial supremacy is now secured over the whole of the neutralized territory and temporarily beyond it; and henceforth Bangkok, where eighty-seven per cent of the trade is ours, is as secure as any British port. The most serious blows tɔ us are political, for we have helped France to build up a great Indo-Chinese empire, the military resources of which must be largely determined by its inhabited extent. It has given France a splendid recruiting ground for sepoys, and has allowed her to become a standing menace to India."

Besides the affairs of Siam, the treaty dealt with the delimitation of the British and French possessions west of the lower Niger, and British relations to Tunis. (See following article.

THE PARTITION OF AFRICA.

The Ashanti Expedition.-The march of the British expeditionary corps to Kumassi (Vol. 5, p. 957) was a military promenade: there was no fighting, no skirmishing, no killed nor wounded; not a shot was fired at an enemy. The commander, Sir Francis Scott, reached Prahsu, just half way from Cape Coast Castle to Kumassi, December 31 last, and advanced by easy stages toward King Prempeh's capital. The health of the troops was excellent. The expedition reached Kumassi January 19; and the place was at once occupied by the native allies and Houssas. The same day King Prempeh was summoned to attend