The general terms of this notice were agreed upon by the representatives of
the different treaty powers, signatories of the agreement concerning the
general foreign settlement at Chemulpo, and they have issued notifications
to their nationals substantially the same as the inclosed.
In my dispatch No. 69 I had the honor to call your attention to the very high
land rent demanded of settlers in the general foreign settlement. In view of
this fact, and of the very burdensome nature of this charge on the settlers,
which is admitted by all the representatives here, a clause has been
inserted in the notice, stating that “as it would, however, appear that the
majority of land owners considered the rent as fixed in the agreement rather
onerous, and as the amount to be collected from this source is in excess of
the requirements of the administration of the settlement, only half of the
amount mentioned in the title deed will have to be paid at present. But it
is to be clearly understood that the other half may be collected at any time
hereafter, when the undersigned arid the other foreign representatives may
think fit.”
It is to be hoped that the agreement of October 3, 1884, may be revised in a
way which will make settling in the foreign settlement of Chemulpo less
expensive, and the charges on residents less onerous, by which means it can
not be doubted the prosperity of the place would greatly increase.
[Inclosure in No. 73.]
Legation of the United States,
Seoul, March 26,
1887.
Citizens of the United States are notified as follows concerning the
purchase of land in the general foreign settlement of Chemulpo:
It having been arranged between the representatives of the treaty powers,
signatories to the agreement of October 3, 1884, respecting a general
foreign settlement at Chemulpo, and the Corean foreign office, that the
said agreement shall come into force on and after the 1st of the 3d
Corean moon, that is, the 25th March, 1887:
Citizens of the United States who have bought lots of land in the general
foreign settlement are now called upon to pay the cost price of such
lots to Her Britannic Majesty’s consular representative at Chemulpo.
Holders of land who have already paid the price or part of the price of
it to the Corean Government directly, will be required to show the
receipts they hold in proof of such payment.
As it appears that during the last two years several lots have been
purchased by foreigners, the limits of which had not been previously
marked, the Corean authorities have appointed Mr. Sabatin, of the Corean
customs service, to mark out the
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boundaries of such lots. Mr. Sabatin will, moreover, mark with
suitable stones the limits of the settlement and the streets.
Any citizen of the United States wishing to have the lot or lots of which
he is holder remeasured and properly marked off, may apply for that
purpose to Her Britannic Majesty’s consulate at Chemulpo.
The remeasuring of lots and the erection of boundary stones thereon will
be done by the said Mr. Sabatin, in the presence of Her Britannic
Majesty’s consular representative at Chemulpo, Mr. Sabatin receiving for
every lot of land resurveyed a fee of $2, to be paid by the holder of
lot, the cost of corner stones for lot to be at the charge of the owner
of land.
Should the Corean local authorities on their part demand a remeasurement
of any lots before issuing title-deeds therefor, they shall of course be
entitled to do so, but in, this case no fee shall be paid by the holder
of the land.
After payment of the cost price shall have been made, or proof shown that
such payment has been made partly or in full to the Corean authorities
anteriorly, the undersigned will cause the said authorities to issue
proper title-deeds, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement
of October 3, 1884.
The amount of land rent to be inserted in the title-deed will be as fixed
by the agreement, and is payable from the 25th of March of the current
year. As it would, however, appear that the majority of land owners
consider the rent as fixed in the agreement rather onerous, and as the
amount to be collected from this source is in excess of the requirements
of the administration of the settlement, only half of the amount
mentioned in the title-deed will have to be paid at present. But it is
to be clearly understood that the other half may be collected at any
time thereafter when the undersigned and the other foreign
representatives may think fit.
The amount thus due for the present calendar year ending December 31,
that is, for nine months and five days, is to be paid into Her Britannic
Majesty’s consulate at Chemulpo within eight days after the title-deeds
have been received by the owners.
It is, however, to he understood that, besides the above payments, land
owners may be required to pay for the time elapsed since the date of the
auction at which their lot or lots were bought till the 24th of March of
this year a land tax to the Corean Government of 30 cents per 100 square
meters, as provided for in the agreement of October 3, 1884.
The date for an election of three land owners to constitute with the
local Corean official and the consuls of the treaty powers a municipal
council for the administration; of the settlement, and also the mode of
election, will be published hereafter.
W. W. Rockhill,
Chargé d’Affaires ad, interim of the United
State.
