Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/350

 A leading London journal, in announcing the signing of the American-Korean treaty, recalled the feat accomplished thirty years before by Perry, who, "overcoming obstacles which had baffled almost every European nation, and without firing a shot, or leaving ill-feeling behind, succeeded in opening Japan to foreign intercourse," and said: "The conclusion of a treaty between the United States and Corea adds another to the peaceful successes of American diplomacy in the far East." And so it has resulted that the establishment of intercourse with the Western world through the United States has been regarded by the Koreans as a recognition of the disinterested friendship of that country.

The signature of the treaty was soon followed by the arrival of an American minister, Mr. Lucius H. Foote, who was received by the king with much distinction and cordiality, and likewise by the queen, who also received the minister's wife. This conduct was in marked contrast with that of Japan even, whose sovereign was not accessible to foreign representatives till fourteen years after the Perry treaty, and still more with that of China, which delayed similar intercourse for a quarter of a century after its treaties with the West.

The reception of the American minister was promptly followed by the dispatch of a special embassy to the United States, consisting of two Koreans of high rank with a suitable suite, who were transported from Korea