No. 304.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Dinsmore.
Washington, June 15, 1888.
Sir: Your dispatches Nos. 105 and 106, diplomatic series, dated the 21st and 28th of April, respectively, have been received and your statements concerning the tendency of foreign missionary organizations in Corea to extend their operations into the interior and to claim increasing privileges in the way of public worship and teaching, have been read with much interest.
I am generally disposed to approve your cautious intimations to the missionaries discouraging any aggressive attempt to enlarge the boundaries of their privileges.
In dealing with a country like Corea, where the traditional policy for centuries has been the exclusion of all foreign intercourse and influence, the change which has taken place within the last few years, and the entrance of Corea into the family of modern nations, necessarily involves large consequences. And while those who are engaged in the effort to implant new principles there are naturally animated with the desire to accomplish much for the cause they represent, yet it should be remembered that the attempt on their part to extend their privileges by acts of aggression, without due regard to treaty limitations and the feelings of the people, might tend to defeat their efforts and to raise opposition to their labors.
Since you state in your No. 106 that you have no copy of the Franco-Corean treaty, a copy in the possession of the Department has been examined for your information; and in relation to the holding of property and the exercise of religious and kindred privileges, the following passages may be quoted:
Article IV, section 2, reads as follows:
In the localities above named Frenchmen shall have the Tight to lease or buy grounds and houses, to erect buildings thereon, and to establish warehouses and manufactories. They shall have the liberty to practice their religion. All arrangements relative to the choice of boundaries and the regulation of the foreign concessions, as well as the sale of lands in the different ports or cities open to foreign commerce, shall be concerted between the Corean authorities and the competent French authorities.
Section 4 of the same article reads:
Frenchmen may lease or buy grounds and houses outside of the limits of the foreign concessions and within a zone of ten Corean lis beyond those limits; but the grounds so occupied shall be subject to local regulations and fiscal taxes under such conditions as the Corean authorities may deem proper to fix.
Article IX, section 2, reads as follows:
Frenchmen resorting to Corea for the purpose of there studying or teaching the written or spoken language, sciences, laws or arts, shall, in testimony of the sentiments of good friendship which animate the high contracting parties always receive aid and assistance. The Coreans resorting to Fiance shall there enjoy the same advantages.
In the absence of knowledge of the construction put by France and Corea on these treaty stipulations and of any explicit grant therein of such rights, the Department would not be warranted in instructing you to claim as derivative from the French treaty the extended privileges of religious teaching among the natives which are sought to be exercised and against which, as indicated by its protest inclosed with your No. 106, the animosities of the Corean Government appear to be roused.
It would certainly be unfortunate for the cause which the worthy and zealous men to whom you refer seek to promote, if by indiscretion and the assertion of privileges not accorded by the treaties, and in opposition to the distinct protests of the Corean Government, they should render their well-meant efforts a ground of hostility on the part of the natives.
I am, etc.,