Corean finance, according to the Japanese vernacular press, is being straightened under the vigilant control of Mr. Brown, the English adviser to the Treasury. Mr. Brown's report. shows that the Corean Treasury has effected economies aggregate no less than 1,600,000 Corean yen in the present yarr, which is quite a large saving compared with the revenue of the country, 4 million yn or so. It ought to be remembered that, when the revolution broke out in Corean politics in February last, everything was thrown out of order, especially finance. Mr. Brown, who had previously been a Commissioner in the Customs, was then appointed adviser to the Treasury. Fortunately, the Government had at that time a surplus of over a million yen, and this sum the new adviser determined to guard with the most rigorous care. Every possible economy was put into force and new undertakings were abandoned. Almost every unusual request made by a Minister of State to the 'Treasury was refused, and the payment of several months' salary of superfluous Government officials was abandoned. It is not strange, therefore, that Mr. Brown became the target of complaint, and an agitation was set afoot to compass his dismissal. He thereupon concluded a secret agreement with the King, and armed with this (which guaranteed his employment for three years), he looked upon the petty machinations of his assailants with disdain. Steadily he tightened the purse-strings, and succeeded in effecting economies. Mr. Brown is of opinion that if the Government is desirous of prolonging its life, it must stick to this negative financial policy, for the utmost economy must be enforced in every item of disbursement. If this policy is maintained, the surplus at the end of the present year will reach over four million yen, and no necessity will arise for recourse toa foreign loan. It is said that the idea of borrowing three million yen from the Russo-Chinese Bank originated with a certain political coterie having special object in view, and that the Government has no desire to resort to this extraordinary means of raising funds.
Questions now attracting public attention in Corea are the sudden appointment of Min Yang-hwa, the all-powerful Minister of War, to be Envoy-Extraordinary to Russia, 'Austria, France, Germany, Eng-Jand, and Italy; and the movements of Min' Yang-tsu, the most powerful latent force in Corea. Opinions differ as to this sudden removal of Yang-hwa from the stage of home politics, some attributing it to the growing influence of Yang-tsu; or to the result of an understanding between Yonghwa and Mr. Waeber, which was arrived at with the view of strengthening Russian influence in Corea. A third conjecture is that Yang-hwa's power is on the-wane, and he therefore intends to remove himself from the reach of public odium. Supposing the first explanation to be nearest the truth, and supposing that the removal signifies Yang-hwa's banishment from the field of active politics, the question arises whether Yang-hwa's sense of inability or his growing dread of Russia's ambition, has influenced his decision. At all events, the change must have some grave import. His supposed dread of Russia may not be unfounded, judging from the almost universal desire of Coreans to see their king return to his palace. Rumour says that Mr, Waeber has declared himself opposed to the King's return to the Palace. The Corean statesmen, even of pro-Russian views, have lately awakened from their pleasant delusion; and reaction is now afoot against Russia, Yang-tsu's movements are an enigma as perplexing as Yang-hwa's sudden removal. Kin Phyong-si has been relieved from the Premiership, after having tendered his resignation for the fourteenth time. The selection of a competent successor is very difficult. The Portfolio of Home Affairs is at present most popular, and Yang-teu is believed to have an eye upon it.
Such ate the views expressed by Tokio journals. They will be read with caution foreigners, much discredit having been thrown upon the veracity, or rather the nature of the sources of information at the command, of Japanese correspondents in Seoul. We are bound to say, however, that events have not always justified the sweeping verdict of the late correspondent of the New York Herald, who told the public that nothing coming from the pen of his Japanese confreres in the Corean capital merited serious consideration. In a grest many cases the letters from Corea published by Pokio journals have afforded valuable indications of the trend of events in the Peninsula. However, these comments are scarcely merited' by the quality of the news immediately in question. Mr. Brown's success in the field of Corean finance is already appreciated, and it may be assumed that if, by legitimate econo. mies, he can stave off the necessity of recourse to foreign—especiallyRussian—pecuniary aid, he will spare no effort to secure that end. As for the statement that Mr. Waeber opposes the return of the King to his palace, we find it difficult to credit. The situation in Corea must be growing intolerable to the Coreans themselves, and that it long ago became irksome to Russia can scarcely be doubted. Being a situation plainly calculated to engender discontent and encourage intrigue, some safe and practical exit from it is probably desired by the Russian Representative as much as by any one else, Concerning Min Yang-tsu's possible access sion to the Cabinet in the position of Home Minister, our readers doubtless recollect that, according to intelligence contained in the latest files of the Independent, Pak Chang-yang, Minister of Home Affairs, has resigned, and been succeeded by Nam Chung chul, forme: ly President of the Foreign Office and Governor of Pyengan. It seems unlikely that another change should occur immediately in the headship of the same department.—Japan Mail,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.