Legation of Japan,
Washington, November 23,
1905.
No. 79 B.]
[Inclosure 1.]
agreement between the governments of japan
and korea.
The Governments of Japan and Korea, desiring to strengthen the
principle of solidarity which unites the two Empires, have with that
object in view agreed upon and concluded the following stipulations,
to serve until the moment arrives when it is recognized that Korea
has attained national strength.
Article I.
The Government of Japan, through the department of foreign affairs in
Tokyo, will hereafter have control and direction of the external
relations and affairs of Korea and the diplomatic and consular
representatives of Japan will have the charge of the subjects and
interests of Korea in foreign countries.
Article II.
The Government of Japan undertake to see to the execution of the
treaties actually existing between Korea and other powers, and the
Government of Korea engage not to conclude hereafter any act or
engagement having an international character, except through the
medium of the Government of Japan.
Article III.
The Government of Japan shall be represented at the court of His
Majesty the Emperor of Korea by a resident general, who shall reside
at Seoul primarily for the purpose of taking charge of and directing
the matters relating to diplomatic affairs. He shall have the right
of private and personal audience of His Majesty the Emperor of
Korea. The Japanese [Page 613]
Government shall have the right to station residents at the several
open ports and such other places in Korea as they may deem
necessary.
Such residents shall, under the direction of the resident general,
exercise the powers and functions hitherto appertaining to Japanese
consuls in Korea, and shall perform such duties as may be necessary
in order to carry into full effect the provisions of this
agreement.
Article IV.
The stipulations of all treaties and agreements existing between
Japan and Korea not inconsistent with the provisions of this
agreement shall continue in force.
Article V.
The Government of Japan undertake to maintain the welfare and dignity
of the Imperial House of Korea.
In faith whereof the undersigned duly authorized by their
governments, have signed this agreement and affixed their seals.
November 17,
1905.
Hayashi Gonsuke,
His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.
Pak Che Soon,
His Imperial Korean Majesty’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
[Inclosure 2.]
declaration of the japanese
government.
The relations of propinquity have made it necessary for Japan to take
and exercise, for reasons closely connected with her own safety and
repose, a paramount interest and influence in the political and
military affairs of Korea. The measures hitherto taken have been
purely advisory, but the experience of recent years has demonstrated
the insufficiency of measures of guidance alone. The unwise and
improvident action of Korea, more especially in the domain of her
international concerns, has in the past been the most fruitful
source of complications. To permit the present unsatisfactory
condition of things to continue unrestrained and unregulated would
be to invite fresh difficulties, and Japan believes that she owes it
to herself and to her desire for the general pacification of the
extreme East to take the steps necessary to put an end once for all
to this dangerous situation. Accordingly, with that object in view
and in order at the same time to safeguard their own position and to
promote the well-being of the Government and people of Korea, the
Imperial Government have resolved to assume a more intimate and
direct influence and responsibility than heretofore in the external
relations of the peninsula. The Government of His Majesty the
Emperor of Korea are in accord with the Imperial Government as to
the absolute necessity of the measure, and the two governments, in
order to provide for the peaceful and amicable establishment of the
new order of things, have concluded the accompanying compact. In
bringing this agreement to the notice of the powers having treaties
with Korea, the Imperial Government declare that in assuming charge
of the foreign relations of Korea and undertaking the duty of
watching over the execution of the existing treaties of that country
they will see that those treaties are maintained and respected, and
they also engage not to prejudice in any way the legitimate
commercial and industrial interests of those powers in Korea.
