Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Appendix I, Chinese-Japanese War, Enforcement of Regulation Respective to Fur Seals, Mosquito Territory, Affairs at Bluefields, Claim of Antonio Maximo Mora, Import Duties on Certain Products of Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela, Affairs in the Samoan Islands

Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham.

No. 45.]

Legation of the United States,
Seoul, Korea, August 17, 1894. (Received September 14.)

Sir: I have the honor to hand yon inclosed a copy of the translation of a dispatch received by me on yesterday from the Korean foreign office announcing that, at the instance of Japan, Korea has abolished or abrogated all the treaty regulations made with her by China.

I have also received a dispatch from the same office announcing that the coinage of the mint erected some two years ago by Japanese for this Government will now be used in the transaction of all business in Korea.

The great council mentioned in dispatch of July 18 is still sitting, and is daily adopting reforms in accordance with the suggestions of Japan. I will send you a copy of these when they are officially agreed upon.

Since writing my dispatch of August 7, there has been nothing of a decisive nature to write you about.

I have, etc.,

John M. B. Sill.

[Inclosure in No. 45.—Translation.]

Kim Yun-sik, president of the foreign office, to Mr. Sill, United States minister, Seoul.

15 Day, 7 Moon, 503d Year. (August 15, 1894.)

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the 18th day of the sixth moon (July 20) I have received a dispatch from Mr. Otori, the Japanese minister, as follows:

Upon examination of the regulations for maritime and overland trade, formerly-made between China and Korea, and the regulations for sea trade-for Chung kiang and the land trade of Kirin,.¹ it seems evident that China regards Korea as her dependent state, since she made these regulations herself alone as the sovereign power. But on examination it is found to be allowed that in matters of both internal administration and foreign intercourse your country enjoys complete independence. Now inquiry shows that during the past, as at present, there has been much that is contrary to independence.

My Government looked upon these regulations as a mere form, not a substantial fact. My Government had not given the matter its close attention, and therefore little heed was paid to the supposed relations. But at this time China has stated formally that she will protect her tributary state; and she sent troops into Korea. It is now known by this that these regulations are no mere forms but a substantial [contract] matter.

Since these regulations are a binding form and must be conformed to, are they not very injurious to the rights of independence of your country?

Furthermore, regarding the treaty between Japan and Korea, which concedes that Korea being an independent state, enjoys the same sovereign rights as does Japan; this becomes then a mere document of nonsense in view of the above regulations.

Now your Government must uphold the independent power and assume the responsibility of maintaining the treaty you have made with my country. This is a very serious [weighty] matter, and I sincerely hope that your (government will immediately notify the Chinese Government of the abolition of all the former regulations and inform my Government that you have done so, in order that the treaty may stand clear and plain as a real thing and not a mere empty document, and that x the countries making the same may not lose face by being placed in an equivocal position.

I have now the honor to inform your excellency that I have notified the Chinese resident (acting) in Seoul, Mr. Tong, of the abrogation of all the regulations which have been made between Korea and China, and I have also informed the Japanese minister of this fact.

I would request your excellency to inform your Government of the above facts.

Kim Yun-sik.

1. See Foreign Relations of the United States far 1883, pp. 173–176.