No. 115.
The King of
Tah-Chosun to President Arthur.
The ratifications of the treaty concluded between our countries having now
been exchanged and friendly relations established, I now send to the United
States of America, as minister plenipotentiary and envoy
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extraordinary, Min-Yong-Ik, and as
vice-minister Hong-Yeng-Sik, in order to convey to Your Excellency the
assurance of my gratification.
Being in my confidence and instructed so as fully to express my ideas they
will no doubt satisfactorily perform their duties, and I hope that full
faith and credence will be given to them in order that the friendship of our
countries may increase and that perfect harmony may be attained. I have no
doubt that Your Excellency will fully share my views.
Done under my own hand and seal, in the four
hundred and ninety-second year of my house, sixth moon, eleventh day
(14th July, 1883).
[Signature and seal of His Majesty the King of
Tah-Chosun.]
By order.
[Seal of Min-Yon-Mok, president of the foreign
office.]
A true translation.
PERCIVAL LOWELL,
Foreign Secretary of
Special Mission.
The representatives of Tah
Chosun to President Arthur.
We, Min-Yong-Ik and Hong-Yeng-Sik, are present in person to address Your
Excellency the President of the United States of America.
Together we have come to Your Excellency, as the representatives of the
Government of Tah-Chosun. We desire to convey to Your Excellency, from
our hearts, our sincere wishes for the health and welfare of Your
Excellency and of the people of the United States.
The people of our countries having entered into friendly intercourse with
each other, and having, both on our side and yours, bound themselves
mutually to continue these happy relations, we pray that the people of
both our lands may live forever, without change, in peace and
happiness.
We beg to offer to Your Excellency two official papers from our
Government; the first is a reply to Your Excellency from His Majesty the
King of Tah-Chosun; the second is our letter of credentials, which we
herewith ask leave to present.
A true translation.
PERCIYAL LOWELL,
Foreign Secretary of
Special Mission.
President Arthur’s
address to the representatives of
Tah-Chosun.
Mr. Minister and Mr. Vice-Minister: It gives me much pleasure to receive you as the
representatives of the King and Government of Tah Chosun.. I bid you a
cordial welcome.
We are not ignorant of your beautiful peninsular country, with its
surrounding islands, or of their productions, or of the industries of
your people, who in population number more than twice that of the United
States when they became an independent nation.
The ocean which intervenes between our respective domains, has, by means
of the introduction and perfection of steam navigation, become a highway
of convenient and safe intercourse. You are our neighbors.
The United States from their geographical position, are, of all others,
the nation with which the orientals should cultivate friendship and a
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commerce which will prove
to them and to us alike beneficial and profitable, and which must
constantly increase.
This Republic, while conscious of its power, of its wealth, and of its
resources, seeks, as our history shows, no dominion or control over
other nationalities, and no acquisition of their territory, but does
seek to give and receive the benefits of friendly relations and of a
reciprocal and honest commerce.
We know you can be of benefit to us, and we think that when you become
familiar with the improvement we have made in agricultural implements
and processes, and in the mechanical arts generally, you will be
satisfied that we can give you a fair return for the benefit you may
confer on us; and it may be that in our system of education and in our
laws you will discover some things that you will be glad to adopt.
It was fit and becoming that you should have made with us your first
treaty of intercourse, amity and commerce.
You will be so good as to present to your King my respectful regards, and
to express to him my gratification and that of our people that he should
have seen proper to honor us by the visit of this embassy.
Gentlemen, I trust that while you are in our country you will have health
and enjoyment.
It will be the purpose of our Government and people so to receive you
that you shall carry home with you pleasant recollections of the
American Republic.
The King of Tah-Chosun to
President Arthur.
The envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States
of America, Lucius H. Foote, brought me Your Excellency’s letter, which
I have read with care, and with the contents of which I have been
delighted.
The treaty concluded last year has now been ratified and put into
execution, and the natural result of this is that my country
congratulates herself.
Your Excellency’s minister, Lucius H. Foote, is on excellent terms with
us; is just and upright; and in the transaction of his business at the
capital is always in accord with the views of my Government. He will
fully realize in action the intention of the United States Government
with regard to his appointment. The relations between our countries,
will, I hope and trust, be every day closer, an end which will be most
gratifying to all.
I pray that under Your Excellency’s beneficent rule the people of the
United States of America will for ages to come experience the most
blessed results.
Done under my own hand and seal in the four hundred and ninety-second year of my
house, sixth moon, eleventh day (14th July,
1883).
[Signature and seal of His Majesty the King of
Tah-Chosun.]
By order,
[Seal of Min-Yon-Mok, president of the foreign
office.]
A true translation.
PERCIYAL LOWELL,
Foreign Secretary
of Special Mission.
