2
6th. (23rd of 4th Moon). From the 31st ult. to the 4th inst. inclusive rain. Steaming heat yesterday and today.
3
The occupation of a typical Minister in the Korean Cabinet. He gets up any time beween 8 and 11 a.m. As soon as he opens his eyes in the bed, his long pipe is filled and puffed with great satisfaction. In fact a pipe is such a part and parcel of a Korean that unless otherwise noted, a pipe is understood to be in his mouth always. While the first or second pipe is being smoked, a "sonnim" or visitor is already at the ear of the Minister, whispering away something. By the way, whispering is an art and then a second nature of a Korean. He has become so habituated to it that he can not talk about anything―say, the commonest remark on the weather―without whispering to your ear.
4
The first visitor is followed by the second, and so on, until the whole room is filled with visitors, each with his 請 or importunities. The Minister, between his pipe and the visitors, spends his morning until he goes to the office―anytime between 12 and 4 p.m. There he is again beset with the whispers. Then he goes to the Palace and wastes the night and returns home between 10 p.m. or 4 a.m.―the last being about the bed hour of His Majesty.
5
During the whole day the Minister has no time for rest, mental or physical―neither for work. The only book or reading he does is the miserable newspapers―the record of Korean shame and imbecility and corruption in and out of the Capital. The atmosphere of intrigue seems to be the natural element to a Korean minister. He is so happy in it that he never gets sick as long as he has an office, though the manner of life is so unhealthy.
6
The Japanese are treating me quite coldly. If they were honest in their professions of good will for Korea or if they were doing anything at all really to help Korea, instead of demanding, nay, extorting, every good thing for the interest of Japan, their neglect might be a source of vexation to me, since that would imply my dishonesty or incapacity. But as the Japanese, the Minister etc., have been and are supporting the corrupt and despotic court in order to serve their own damnable ends, their coolness to me implies that can not be used for selling this country to them. That much is to my credit.
7
When Yu kil Joon was in power in 1895, I was left out of their councils, but later events proved that I was after all right. Yi Chai Yon, Yi Yun Yong, Yi Wan Yong and Company gave me a cold shoulder when they were deep in tricks with Waeber and the Colbran affairs. I have nothing to regret about that. Min Yong Whan, in St. Petersburg, did not take me into his confidence, which hurt my feelings very much then. But I was rather glad of it afterward. Pavlov and his slaves before the war showed no kindness to me; but where should I be now in reputation if they did? Now the Japanese authorities treat me with decided coolness. Who knows if that is or will be another blessing to me?
9
8th. Cool―rain early a.m. Cleared up in the p.m.
10
Hayashi of Japan―the Chivalrous Savior of Korea!―is trying to get a big concession, one which will hand over the whole peninsula to Japan. A contract is to be signed between the Minister of Household Department and a Nagamori. The contract intrigue or scheme is as follows;
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1. The undeveloped sources of natural wealth viz. all plains and fields(原野) mountains and forests(山林) , streams and ponds of lake(川澤) , are to be placed under the control of a bureau newly established and named 御供院 or Imperial Supply Office.
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2. This precious Office is to concede to Mr. Nagamori, a Japanese subject, the power and exclusive rights of cultivating, improving and otherwise developing the resources now lying hidden in the said 山林, 川澤, 原野. No one else is to enjoy the rights.
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3. The capital necessary for developing these resources is to be supplied by Nagamori, the Korean Household Department not to be called on to bear any part of the expenses.
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4. The contract is to run 50 years. At the end of that term, if the Korean government so desires, it may revoke the concession by paying Nagamori the capital invested at the interest of 5% per annum.
15
This is the most unblushing and devilish piece of tricky Japanese ever played on Korea. It is annexation minus the name. As bribe can do everything in Korea, there is no doubt Japanese will get what they want by bribes and threats. Min Byong Suk is the Korean through whom Nagamori is working. Min is a damnable scoundrel.
16
Now I see why Japanese have been so careful to support and encourage the corrupt Court.
17
I handed to Mr. Yi Ha Yong, the Minister of Foreign Office, my objections:
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1. In 50 years Koreans will advance in knowledge and multiply in population. These natural resources in the hands of a Japanese will give no room to Koreans for expansion.
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2. Since nobody will be able to know the precise amount of capital Japanese will put in the work, Korea will have to pay, nobody knows how many times the real capital , with interest, at the end of 50 years. In fact that will be impossible.
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3. It is morally wrong. No shame for a weak nation to be swallowed up by a stronger one. But to hand over the whole country with eyes open, for dirty bribes, to Japan, is too much even in this corrupt land.
23
Foreign Office gave a farewell dinner to Hayashi. All the members of the Korean government present. Knowing what Hayashi stands for in regard to Korea, I could not bring myself to be cordial to him. He was cool enough too. At the end of the dinner, which bored me like most such dinners do, Hayashi said: "Korean gentlemen eat too much. Hence all the blood goes to the stomach leaving the brains empty." That was a complimentary after dinner speech! He again said something about bringing back Yi Yong Ik―a threat which he has been using pretty much in the same way as a nurse cries "cat" to a baby (in Korea) . The truth of the fact is that Koreans are babies in all but selfish intrigues.
26
Hayashi left Seoul for Japan. A large number of Korean officials went to see him off at the station. 玄映運, 朴義秉, 庾洪大 accompanies him to Chemulpo. One is known by the company he keeps.
29
Moved to our own house outside the South Gate.
31
14th.(1st of 5th Moon). Tuesday.
32
Busy in cleaning and in otherwise making the house habitable. The English did not take care of the house as neatly as one might have expected, considering the almost nominal rent they paid me.
35
After 4 p.m. called on Mr. Sim Sang Hoon, the acting Prime Minister. Urged him to sit squarely on th Nagamori concession. Sim is the man in the Korean government who can do most if he wills or dares; he has free access to His Majesty; he is the premier; he, being a great yangban, has a great influence among his peers. Yet he is too afraid of offending His Majesty. No hope.
36
Mr. Sim told me that he had learned from His Majesty last night, that the Czar of Russia is going to conduct the war in person, throwing into the field one million soldiers, and the absence of the Czar, the President of France and the Kaiser of Germany are to 監督 or take charge of the Russian affairs. This is stuff on which the Emperor feeds night after night.
39
At 12 p.m., went to the 演慶堂 of the Eastern Palace, at the invitation of the Minister of Household. A garden party was given to the members of the Japanese Diet and members of Foreign attaches and correspondents who had arrived on the "Manchuria", en route to the places made prominent by recent events of the War. To me the scene was exceedingly sad―the old gardens full of associations of the Queen and her kindnesses to me. In 演慶堂, the room in which Her Majesty, on the 5th day of the 5th moon of 甲申, gave me the watch was unchanged. So was the yard in which there was a swing for the young Palace Maids. How sad all that. The Queen gone forever from these beautiful surroundings, while her murderers are holding picnics in the very rooms she used to occupy.
41
28th. Steaming hot, clusty.
42
The Nagamori concession has evoked a great deal of anti-Japanese feelings among the people. Memorials (上疏) , circulers (通文) , open letters(長書) , editorials, all showed how Koreans already beginning to be sick of Japanese. The meanness of the Japanese will hurt them ultimately as well as Korea. The Cabinet has decided to refuse the grant of the concession.
43
What then! Will Japanese be content with the defeat? Failing with bribes, they will use force ( ) . Even if the Japanese quit pestering the Korean government for the concession, what hope is there for the Emperor or his Cabinet awaking to the situation?
44
The shamelessness of a Korean Minister is simply astounding. His passion for office―for the mere sake of office―is pitiful. Ask him the following questions.
45
"Why do you hold this office when you know and you say you can not do anything on account of the 處分, or Imperial order, and of 未安, or Imperial displeasure?" His only, and unblushing, answer is: "If I do not hold this office, someone else will get the salary for doing no more than I." One who had three offices.―of the Minister of War, of the Director of the Military Council, (軍務總長) and of the president of the Imperial Treasury (內藏卿) . He complains constantly that he can not do any good in these offices, that he has no rest of body and mind, and that the country goes to the dogs, because of the bad government etc. etc. etc. Yet he evidently enjoys these offices immensely, as much as a boy does as set of nice toys. Office, money, and young concubines constitute his darling objects of passionate love. Given these, I do not think he cared for anything else.
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