Expenditures of the Russo-Japanese war / by Gotaro Ogawa.

INTRODUCTION

5

movement, was ruthlessly assassinated, and that the Japanese
Minister and advisers at Seoul were alleged to have been
implicated in the coup d'etat. In January of the following
year the anti-Japanese party finally succeeded in carrying
out their plot of overthrowing the pro-Japanese Ministry,
the Russian Minister supported the coup by bringing up a
contingent of Russian marines from Chemulpo to the Korean
capital, and on February I I both the King and the heir apparent found shelter in the Russian Legation. Thenceforward
all governmental orders began to emanate from the Russian
Legation, all Japanese advisers and army officers were discharged and all Japanese influence was summarily expelled
from Korea. Russia thus stepped into the shoes of China
and dominated the peninsular Kingdom, dismissing Japan,
so that the latter's special position there, a fruit of the SinoJapanese War, was largely impaired before one year had
elapsed after securing it. In consequence, therefore, Japan
had to give up the policy of protecting Korea single-handed
and was obliged to maintain the residue of her interest in the
country by a compromise with the northern power.
Two conventions were signed between Japan and Russia
in May, I896. By their provisions, Japan sacrificed an
important part of her acquired rights in Korea, while Russia
obtained so much new influence that the power of the two
countries in the peninsula almost balanced. It was arranged
that the two countries should render financial assistance to
Korea by mutual agreement, that they should not take part
in the military and police administration but leave the matter
entirely with the Seoul Government, and that Russia should
advise the King to return to his palace.
In defiance of these conventions, however, Russia vigorously tried to improve her fresh opportunity with a view to
putting herself in Japan's former position in Korea. She prevailed upon the King, before he left the Russian Legation, to
employ Russian officers, who began to train Korean troops
as early as June, I896. Subsequently, taking no notice of
Japanese protests, she induced the Korean Government to