There unfortunately appears to be grave danger of complications between this country and the Hermit Kingdom. The cause of the present strained relations—that they are strained is evident from the fact that Mr. Mutsu, Minister of State for Foreign Afiairs, has given Mr. Oishi, Japanese Minister at Seoul, instructions to withdraw from the capital and return to Tokio failing receipt of a satisfactory reply from the Corean Government to his ultimatum—arises out of the prohibition of the export of corn and food stuts, which prohibition {is said to have caused heavy losses to a number of Japanese merchants in Corea, 'The treaty between the two powers reserves to Corea the right to prohibit the export of corn, beans, and so forth under certain circumstances' and conditions, and these features of the compact, Japan claims, were altogether ignored when the export of grain, ete., was suspended some four years ago. When Mr. Oishi was appointed to represent this country at Seoul (about the latter part of last year, if I am not mistaken), strong hopes were entertained here of speedy settlement of the questions in dis-te, but thanks to a continuance of the evasive policy with which the Corean authorities stand changed, only vexatious delays and hollow promises have so far reatlted. Japan now appears resolved to resort to more ENERGETIC MEASURES, anda preliminary Mr. Oishi isto retire from the country. It is thought here that Mr. Oishi has arrived at Jinsen en route to this country, but this, so far as Ican gather, is a matter of conjecture pure and simple. It is reported in one of the vernacular journals that Mr, Mutsw had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor on this subject on the ith inst. There seems a likelihood of either Viscount Enomoto or Count Soyejima—both of whom, it will be remembered, have held Cabinet positions in the government here—heing sent to Corea as a special envoy. There are ruincurs of the impending despatch of one or two men-of-war and steamers of the of Japanese residents should be imperilled, nippon Yusen Kaisha lest the safer Doubtless the dispute will be settled without a resort to force. All the same, it is a matter for regret that it should not have been amicably determined long ere this. The Chinese Representative at Seoul is believed to have something to do with Corea's proceedings. Japan certainly carnot be accused of having shown unnecessary impatience. The subject has occupied attention here for a long time now.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.