1 No. 66. JAPAN AND RUSSIA." MEMORANDUM SIGNED BY THE JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN REPRE- SIGNED AT SEOUL, MAY 14, 1896. The Representatives of Russia and Japan at Söul, 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telegraph line between Fusan and Soul, and that these guards, now consisting of three companies of soldiers, should be withdrawn as soon as possible and replaced by gendarmes who will be distributed as follows:- Fifty men at Taiku, 50 men at Kaheung, and 10 men each at 10 intermediate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some changes, but the total number of the gendarmes force shall never exceed 200 men, who will afterwards gradually be withdrawn from such places where peace and order have been restored by the Korean Government.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. IV. For the protection of the Japanese settlements at Söul and the open ports against possible attacks by the Korean populace, two companies of Japanese troops may be stationed at Soul, one company at Fusan and one at Gensan, each company not to exceed 200 men. These troops will be quartered near the Settlements, and shall be withdrawn as soon as no apprehension of such attacks could be entertained. For the protection of the Russian Legation and Consulates, the Russian Government may also keep guards not exceeding the number of Japanese troops at these places, and which will be withdrawn as soon as tranquillity in the interior is completely restored. Soul, May 14, 1896. C. WAEBER, Representative of Russia. KOMURA, Representative of Japan. No. 67. JAPAN AND RUSSIA. ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN, RELATIVE TO AFFAIRS IN KOREA. a SIGNED AT Moscow, JUNE 9, 1896. The Secretary of State, Prince Lobanoff Rostovsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Russia, and the Marshal Marquis Yamagata, Ambassador Extraordinary of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan, having exchanged views on the situation of Korea, have concluded the following articles: ART. I. The Russian and Japanese Governments, with a view of remedying the financial embarrassment of Korea, will advise the Korean Government to suppress all useless expenditure, and to establish an equilibrium between the expenses and the revenue. If, as the result of admittedly indispensable reforms, it should become necessary to have recourse to foreign loans, the two Governments will lend by mutual accord their assistance to Korea. II. The Russian and Japanese Governments will endeavour to leave to Korea, so far as the financial and economical situation of that country will permit them to do so, the creation and maintenance of an armed force and of a native police in sufficient proportions to maintain internal order without foreign aid. III. With the view of facilitating communications with Korea, the Japanese Government will continue to administer the telegraph lines which are at the present moment in its hands. Russia reserves the right to establish a telegraph line from Söul to her own frontier. These different lines may be bought back by the Korean Government as soon as it has the means of doing so. IV. In the event of any of the principles herein set forth requiring a more precise and more detailed definition; or if other points should arise on which it would be necessary to agree, the Representatives of the two Governments shall be charged to consider the matter in a friendly sense. Done at Moscow, May 28 (June 9), 1896. LOBANOFF. a Journal de St. Petersbourg, February 13/25, 1897. See also British and Foreign State Papers, Vol. LXXXVIII, pp. 471–472. No. 68. JAPAN AND RUSSIA. AGREEMENT RELATIVE TO INDEPENDENCE OF KOREA AND NEUTRAL RIGHTS. a SIGNED AT TOKIO, APRIL 25, 1898. [Translation.] Baron Rosen, State Councillor, Chamberlain, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of All the Russias, and Baron Nissi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, in order to give effect to Article IV. of the Protocol signed at Moscow on June 9, 1896, between the Secretary of State Prince Lobanoff and the Marquis Yamagata being duly authorised to that effect, have agreed to the following Articles: May 28, ARTICLE I.-The Imperial Governments of Russia and Japan recognise definitely the Sovereignty and entire independence of Korea, and pledge themselves mutually to abstain from all direct interference in the internal affairs of that country. II.-Desiring to remove all possible cause of misunderstanding in the future, the Imperial Governments of Russia and Japan pledge themselves mutually, in the event of Korea having recourse to the advice and assistance, either of Russia or of Japan, to take no measure in respect to the appointment of military instructors or financial advisers, without arriving beforehand at a mutual agreement on this subject. III.-In view of the wide development taken by the commercial and industrial enterprises of Japan in Korea, as well as the large number of Japanese subjects residing in that country, the Russian Government will not hinder the development of commercial and industrial relations between Japan and Korea. Done at Tokyo in duplicate the 13/25 April, 1898. a French text in British and Foreign State Papers, XCII, 1068. 27938-04-28 ROSEN. 433 No. 69. CHINA. TREATY BETWEEN KOREA AND CHINA. SIGNED SEPTEMBER 11, 1899. RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED DECEMBER, 1899. His Majesty the Emperor of Korea and His Majesty the Emperor of China, being sincerely desirous of establishing permanent relations of harmony and friendship between their respective subjects, have resolved to conclude a treaty for that purpose, and have therefore named as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say: His Majesty the Emperor of Korea, Pak Chai Sun, Korean minister of foreign affairs, minister of the council of state, etc., His Majesty's minister plenipotentiary; His Majesty the Emperor of China, Hsü Shou Peng, an official of the second grade, director of the imperial stud, His Majesty's minister plenipotentiary; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in due and good form, have agreed upon and concluded the following commercial treaty: ARTICLE I. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the Empire of Korea and the Empire of China, and between their Peace, friendship, respective subjects, who shall enjoy equally in the respective countries of the High Contracting Parties full protection and the advantages of favorable treatment. good offices. If other powers should deal unjustly or oppressively with either Government, the other, on being informed of the case, will exert their good offices to bring about an amicable arrangement, thus showing their friendly feelings. ARTICLE II. After the conclusion of this treaty of amity and commerce, the High Contracting Parties may each appoint diplomatic repDiplomatic repre- resentatives to reside at the court of the other, and may each appoint consular representatives at the ports of the other which are open to foreign commerce, at their own convenience. sentatives. |