The Times of Wednesday contained an interesting com- munication from
its Tokio correspondent as to the progress of Japan in Korea. The Marquis Ito, the Resident-General, is having much the same difficulties as Lord Cromer had in early days in Egypt,—the Royal house intriguing against the protecting Power with that Power's principal rival. The Emperor has apparently come to believe that the Convention of November, 1905, is not binding on him, and an elaborate plot was hatched, in which the Court was implicated. During the Marquis Ito's absence in Japan last May disturbances broke out throughout the country, but the Japanese dealt firmly with the rising, and soon had the ringleaders in custody. The complicity of the Emperor was clear, com- missions sealed with his vermilion seal being found in the rebels' camp ; but the Japanese very wisely gave his Majesty the benefit of the doubt. The conspirators had looked to Russia, who has shown a tendency to refuse to recognise Japan's rights to control Korean foreign policy. It is the old story of Egypt, and we trust that Japan will learn the Egyptian lesson,—that the hostility of a Court and the ruling classes can only be counteracted by winning over the people to the alien rule by a careful avoidance of any action likely to wound national pride.
