Seoul, Aug. 25.
A regrettable incident occurred here this afternoon when Congressman H. 8. Hersman of California came into conflict with the police. With Japanese approval the Congressional Party had accepted the invitation of the Korean Y.M.C.A. to meet returned students and others. The news of this meeting resulted in a crowd gathering at the Y.M.C.A., and the police therefore changed the place of the meeting to the Chosen Hotel. The Koreans refused to accept the change. Mr.- Hersman, who was out sightseeing. saw the crowd and entered the Y.M.C.A. He gave a short address to the Koreans, in which he made no reference to poli ties.
Mr. Yi Sang-chai, Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. and former Secretary te the Korean Legation at Washington, was replying when the police entered the building, took Mr. Hersman, Mr. Yi and the other persons on the platform into the lobby and ordered other foreigners to leave the building, saying: "Our business is with Koreans only." Mr. Hersman attempted explanations but they were unheeded. He refused to leave the building until the Koreans were released.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.