No. 65. JAPAN. TREATY OF ALLIANCE BETWEEN JAPAN AND KOREA. Signed at Seoul, August 26, 1894. In view of the fact that on the 25th of July, 1894, the Korean Government entrusted His Imperial Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Söul, Korea, with the expulsion, on their behalf, of Chinese soldiers from Korean territory, the Governments of Japan and Korea have been placed in a situation to give mutual assistance both offensive and defensive. Consequently the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have, with a view of defining the fact and of securing in the premises concerted action on the part of the two countries, agreed to the following Articles: ARTICLE I. The object of the alliance is to maintain the Independence of Korea on a firm footing and to promote the respective interests of both Japan and Korea by expelling Chinese soldiers from Korean territory. ARTICLE II. Japan will undertake all warlike operations against China, both offensive and defensive, while Korea will undertake to give every possible facility to Japanese soldiers regarding their movements and supply of provisions. ARTICLE III. This treaty shall cease and determine at the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace with China. In witness whereof, the Plenipotentiaries of the two countries, have signed the treaty and hereunto affixed their seals. Done at Soul this 26th day of August, 1894. KEISUKE OTORI, H. I. J. M's. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. KIM IN SHIOUKU, H. K. M's. Minister for Foreign Affairs. 429 No. 66. JAPAN AND RUSSIA." MEMORANDUM SIGNED BY THE JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVES, RELATIVE TO KOREAN AFFAIRS. SIGNED AT SEOUL, MAY 14, 1896. The Representatives of Russia and Japan at Soul, having conferred under the identical instructions from their respective Governments, have arrived at the following conclusions: ART. I. While leaving the matter of His Majesty the King of Korea's return to the palace entirely to his own discretion and judgment, the representatives of Russia and Japan will friendly advise his Majesty to return to that place when no doubts concerning his safety could be entertained. The Japanese representative on his part gives the assurance that the most complete and effective measures will be taken for the control of Japanese soshi. II. The present Cabinet Ministers have been appointed by his Majesty of his own free will, and most of them held Ministerial or other high offices during the last two years and are known to be liberal and moderate men. The two Representatives will always aim at recommending his Majesty to appoint liberal and moderate men as Ministers, and to show clemency to his subjects. III. The Representative of Russia quite agrees with the Representative of Japan that in the present state of affairs in Korea it may be necessary to have Japanese guards stationed at some places for the protection of the Japanese telegraph line between Fusan and Söul, and that these guards, how consisting of three companies of soldiers, should be withdrawn as soon as possible and replaced by gendarmes who will be distributed as follows: Fifty men at Taiku, 50 men at Kaheung, and 10 men each at 10 intermediate posts between Fusan and Soul. This distribution may be liable to some changes, but the total number of the gendarmes force shall never exceed 200 men, who will afterwards gradually be withdrawn from such places where peace and order have been restored by the Korean Government. a British and Foreign State Papers, Vol. LXXXVIII, pp. 472–473. |