Korean independence outbreak beginning March 1st 1919

([S.l. :  s.n.,  1920?])

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on the 16th "officially ejconeratlag the missionaries.''

"An official statement has been issued by the Director of the In¬
ternal A2y:^»Ajc>a-«»aaerating the mlasionarles from any complicity or fore¬
knowledge of the recent agitations, Tjhich effectually disposes of the
statements to the contrary appearing in the Japanese papers."

This eacooeration was issued on the 14th and published in the Japan
ij^tinnrtiEKji- on the 16th, It must have been known to all papers, there¬
fore, both native and foreign. Still on the very next day, the moat li¬
bellous of all theae libellous statements appeared in the Osaka Ashi
and is q.uoted atoove under the caption, "The Evil Village Outside the i-Tost
aat©, Pyeng Yang,"  "To the contrary" means very little when the truth is
aot printed but instead libels. These libels are all which the Japanese
public are apt to see or read. One denial sot ovor against scores of
libels means nothing. What is necessary is that the truth and only the
truth be published. If such is not forthcoming, the articles ought to be
suppressed.

POHEIGHERO AflD INDEPENDENCE AGITATION.

Statement by Chief of Foreign Affairs Section.

Hr. Hisamizu, Chief of the Foreign Affairs Section of the Govern¬
ment-General of Chosen, in an interview with a representatives of the
Eeijo Nippon oouBeming the Korean independence at^itation, exoressea
his regret at the currency of baseless rumors that some foreign
residents have taken part in it. He deprecates the dissemination of
such rumors without any tangible evidence.  Should any foreigners be
found to have instigated or addeted the riotors, the authorities would
not hesitate to arrest and punish thea. The Govenmient-General,
Mr, Hisamizu, continues, has sent a note to foreign Consulates asking
them to warn their nationalities from approaching the scene of demon¬
stration and similiar movements, because by doing so they eapose them¬
selves to the danger of beihti misunderstood. An insinuation appeared
in the Press that the American Consul General was implicated in tho
trouble. This owed its origin to the fact that the Consul General passed
near the scene of demonstration in an automobile.  It goes
without saying that the insinuation is gross injustice. Mr, Hisamizu
speaks strongly against harboring unvjarrented suspicion against goreign-
6rs.

HO FOBJEIGNEHS IMPLICATED IN EOBEAH UPRISINGS.

The Japan Advertiser reprodiices from the Hochi, a Tokyo dally, a
statement attributed to Mr. Midori Eocatsu, former director of Foreign
Affairs of the Government-General of Chiaen, concerning the recent
Korean uprisings at Seoul and elsewhers^. The Hochi introduces Mr. Komatsu'
statement with a rumor that seven American missionaries have been arrest¬
ed on suspicion of having instigated the Korean demonstrators. This
rumor is as entirely groundless as some of the accusations laid by
Mr. Komatsu iu the statement attributed to him.

It is very probable that Mr. Komatsu has not been correctly quoted.
Having lived at Seoul and had long experience with foreign missionaries
in Chosen for manj- years, iui . Komatsu ought to know better and should be
the last ma^i to make such remarks as are attributed to him. Host probably
the representative of the Hochi v/ho interviewed him on the affair, held
t^e idea so prevelont among amny Japanese pressmen, that foreigners were
at -the baok of the Korean rioter;^, and under the influence of this
erroneous nation interpreted MS. Komatsu's harmless statement in a way
congenial to hit, liking. It is inconceivable that kr. Komatsu made such
fpalish remarks against foreign uissioaaries as the following;-

» "Whenever disturbances occured in the past they assumed an unconceme
sd air, without even doing so much as issuing warnings or advice to their
congregations to siiow their respect for authority and to nreveut them-
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