Tue mere fact that very little is known of what is going on in that crescent-shaped strip of territory lying between Peking and Seoul, the capital of Corea, by no means proves that nothing is being done. We jadge from advices received from Correspondents in Peking that the apparent quiescence of the Chinese in the matter of the Liuchinan Islands has been a case of reculer pour mieux cauter, and that they are preparing to take measures calculated to bring the dispute to an issue during the summer of this year. That this would be a very desirable achievement is unquestionable. There is no doubt that the Lincbisans would very much sooner have preserved their independence of either country, and been permitted to carry on their own affairs ler rheic own government; but if virtanlly impracticable, owing to their geographical position quoad the two great Empires in their im. mediate vicinity, there can be no question that the sooner the dispute is settled one way or another the better for all three parties. The Liuchiuans look to the Emperor of China as their nataral protector; but they can scarcely have forgotten that by the act and deed of their own King and his advisers in the year 1609, they are the fiefs of the Emperor of Japan, und owe noallegianco to the Dragon Throne, The coutroveray at the present moment seems to be assuming a triangular shape. It is now no longer a dispute between China and Japan alone; Corea is probably about to play a part in the diplomatic drama. That country has lately been the scene of much internal strife, A conspiracy is said to have been discovered, beaded by n brother of the King, the object of which was the assassination of the monarch and the overthrow of the existing order of Government. Thereasou for this movement we do notkuow; but it may possibly have been connected with the growing dissatisfaction of the Retrogressive Party at the recent developments of foreign policy. There is no doubt that the admission of the Japanese to trade at some of the Corean ports has given great offence. Civilities have taken place between the Japnnese and Corean authorities, it is true; the Mikado's health was drunk upon his birthday, and complimentary speeches were ex. changed; but "the enmity is not yet taken away." A writer whose words we have lately published tells us that—from a Japanese point of view—the Coreans are friendly only in sppeeraice the official class in particular giv evidence of a hostile and haughty tumd towards foreigners. The Governor of Togukenfu is quoted as an instance of sulkiness and obstinacy. The Coreans on their side complain of the high. handed and unbearable conduct of the Japanese settlers, and a mission is said to have been sent lately to the Capital, not of Japan, bat of China, imploring the interference of the Government to prevent the gross maltreatment of the natives by their unwelcome visitors. "The accounts of the treatment inflicted by the Jupanese have caused a very bad feeling," wrote one of oar own Correspondents from the North, "and the reports cannot be gain said, as there are witnesses in this place [Tientsin] whose testimony in unquestionable, If Japan wants to provoke a war with Chinasheisgoiugthe right way to have her desire granted, as the Liachin question is far from being settled." Tu fact the situation may be summed up in a few wards as follows. Japan has opened up communication with Corea. The Coreans hate the Japanese just as they hate all foreigners, and have manifested n strong desire to gain the assistance of China. They have attempted to induce the Chinese Government to interfere in a dispute which concerns only themselves and the Japanese, and the request can only be acceded to by the Chinese making a formal protest against the abuses complained of, to the Japanese Government, The old dispute between China and Jo. pon is still unsettled, and has recently assumed a very acrimonious form. There could be no more conveniently situated base of operations for China than the Corean promontory; while the Coreans, on their side, would be only too glad to place China under an obligation to themselves and pay off their grudge to the Japanese at the same time. In view of all this, every word of which we believe to be atriotly true, the situation may prove as tempt. ing to China as it certainly is threatening to Japan, It is suid that there have been extensive transportations of arms and munitions of war from the North-east of Peking into Corea within the last few weeks, and there is reason to suppose that China is taking such steps as will enable her to assume a more dictatorial tone in her controversy with Japan than hitherto. Nothing very practical will be done during the winter; but we should not be surprised to hear news of a definite nature from the north as soon as the spring sofa fairly in.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.