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Corean Dawn excerpt (Page 4)
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of Corea. Help me keep these testy Coreans in good spirits.”
“Meeting’s about to continue,” said Tubert nodding toward the cabin’s table. “Chinese have been flocking to the ports of Chemulpo, Chinampo and Sinuiju ever since their treaty with Chaoshien the other year, but there's no love between the Chinese and Coreans. Commodore, I’m here representing my own interests, not America’s, and damned sure not the Middle Kingdom’s. I depend on you for nothing, but you can trust me, sir.”
That afternoon, two clauses were tentatively slipped into the treaty discussions which the Coreans showed little concern with. Shufeldt was adamant about extraterritoriality, a clause in which American envoys and American foreign traders would not be under Corean law until Corean law resembled American legal practices. Another provision that the Coreans voiced no concern with, because it was not within their scheme of thinking, was the commodore’s insistence of a “most favored nation clause,” which would grant Americans rights superior to any future treaty that another nation might forge with Chaoshien.
“That is,” clarified the naval officer, watching for expressions on the faces of those around him, and seeing not a flicker except for a quizzical glance from Tubert, “there can be no other treaty granting other countries benefits exceeding those between the United States and Chaoshien.”
The prefect later called the Soldier Brother to his side.
“I don’t understand why the Americans desire this most favored thing,” said the Corean official, quietly, not waiting for the Chinese interpreter to finish. “Is there significance to this?”
“I think not, sang nim,” said Tubert, with a shrug. “I suspect Russia, Britain, France, Germany and those obnoxious Japanese are still in political tugs-of-war in China.. They are concession-hungry wolves, out to impose their wills and interests, sir, with never-ending claims and demands. And you can add the Chinese now flowing into Chaoshien to that group. It could be a good idea to allow, even require, these strangers to be dominant.”
Toward the end of that first meeting, Jewell motioned to Tubert, watching the man’s curious gait as the Corean-garbed west¬erner approached him.
“I notice you walk with a hobble, Timothy. Have you been hurt?”
“I took an arrow in the leg at Kangwha, commander. That’s why I never made it back to the ships.”
“I wanted to come back for you, son, but wasn’t allowed. Listen, we’re hosting a party for the Corean officials tonight aboard ship,” said the human be¬hemoth. “Will you join us? I’ll send a boat special for you. We could talk, Timo¬thy.”
“I’ll be there,” replied Tubert evenly to the one of only Westerners he had trusted as a boy. Of course, the Pusan prefect would require him to accompany them to the Ticonderoga, but a separate boat from the barbarians just for him would boost his prestige before these Corean officials. “At your request, Theodore. But not at the commodore’s.”
Late that afternoon, after the opening talks had ended and the Americans had returned to the ship, Tubert returned to the beach and dressed in western clothing but still wore his hair in a topknot, his revolver in the hide sack over his shoulder. Along this part of the shore, ancient Pusan stood apart, distinct from the booming con¬
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