Mr. Allen to Mr. Hay.
Seoul, April 8, 1903.
Sir: In reply to your dispatch No. 218, of January 13, answering mine of November 19, last, No. 531, regarding my inability to obtain satisfaction from the Korean Government for unwarranted conduct on the part of the governor and magistrate of Pengyang, and instructing me to continue to make vigorous representations until proper satisfaction is obtained, I have the honor to inform you that with those instructions I was able to move the foreign office to do its utmost in the matter, and, after frequent strong telegraphic instructions from the minister for foreign affairs, the governor of Pengyang finally paid over the 100 yen to Reverend Mr. Hunt, of the Presbyterian mission.
I had instructed Mr. Hunt that an apology was to accompany the payment, but he disregarded my instructions and accepted the money from a messenger sent by the governor, giving a written receipt for the same. I was sorry for this, and so informed Mr. Hunt; yet it seems that the matter had better be dropped with the payment.
The minister for foreign affairs says he fears he can do no more, and that payment by a Korean in such a case is a greater admission of guilt than an apology. Also, the Americans inform me that the result has caused the practice of “squeezing” to almost stop at Pengyang.
I inclose duplicate receipt of Mr. Hunt, sent to me through the foreign office.
I have, etc.