requested the withdrawal of the troops of both nations. The Chinese expressed a willingness to withdraw concurrently with the Japanese. The latter declined until Korea should adopt such reforms in government as would prevent further disorders. The king, greatly alarmed lest his country should become the theatre of war, appealed to the resident representatives of foreign powers to secure the withdrawal of the troops.
Mr. Gresham, the Secretary of State, in view of the provision in the treaty between the United States and Korea which pledged the United States to exert its good offices to bring about an amicable settlement of trouble with other powers, sent a telegraphic instruction to the American minister at Seoul "to use every possible effort for the preservation of peaceful conditions." In execution of this instruction the minister, acting in concert with his diplomatic colleagues, resubmitted the proposal of the king of Korea for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops to the Chinese and Japanese representatives, as an honorable adjustment of the difficulty; but the Japanese again declined the proposal.
The king, upon this second refusal, being satisfied that Japan meditated war, telegraphed his minister in Washington that his independence was seriously menaced and directed him to appeal to the United States to intervene in favor of peace; and he in person asked the American minister in Seoul to allow him to take refuge in his legation in case of necessity, which permission the minister cheerfully granted. Early in July the Chinese government asked the American minister at Peking to telegraph the Secretary of State in its
