Minister Morgan to the Secretary of State.

No. 41.]

Sir: With the confirmation below of my telegram of the 28th of November in reference to my departure from Seoul, I have the honor to inclose copies of the notes addressed by me on that day to the Korean minister for foreign affairs, to our consul-general for Korea, and to the chargé d’affaires of the American legation at Tokyo, informing them that in conformity with your instructions I had intrusted the archives and property of the legation to the care of the American consul-general at Seoul and was about to withdraw from Korea. * * *

I have, etc.,

Edwin V. Morgan.
[Inclosure 1.]

Minister Morgan to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Minister: As a result of the convention recently concluded between the Imperial Governments of Korea and Japan, whereby Japan, through the foreign office at Tokyo, will henceforward control and direct the foreign relations and affairs of Korea, and in view of the fact that I have been notified by my government that diplomatic matters affecting the persons and property rights of American citizens in Korea, as secured by the existing treaties between Korea and the United States, will be dealt with hereafter by the American legation at Tokyo, [Page 633] I have the honor to inform your excellency that in pursuance of telegraphic instructions I have to-day placed the property and archives of this legation in the hands of the American consul-general at Seoul, whose functions as secretary of the legation cease, and am about to withdraw from Korea.

I avail, etc.,

Edwin V. Morgan.
[Inclosure 2.]

Minister Morgan to Consul-General Paddock.

Sir: As a result of the convention recently concluded between the Imperial Governments of Korea and Japan, whereby Japan, through the foreign office at Tokyo, will henceforward control and direct the foreign relations and affairs of Korea, and in view of the fact that I have been notified by the Secretary of State that diplomatic matters affecting the persons and property rights of American citizens in Korea, as secured by the existing treaties between Korea and the United States, will be dealt with by the American legation at Tokyo, I have the honor to inform you that as I am about to withdraw from Korea, I hereby transfer to your charge as American consul-general for Korea, the property and archives of this legation, and that your functions as secretary of legation cease.

I have, etc.,

Edwin V. Morgan.
[Inclosure 3.]

Minister Morgan to Chargé Wilson.

Sir: I have the honor to confirm below my telegram of the 28th instant regarding the withdrawal of the legation of the United States from Korea and to advise you that I shall proceed to America, through Japan, in order to place at your disposal information relating to the unfinished business of this legation, which will be dealt with hereafter by the American legation at Tokyo.

American Chargé, Tokyo.

Twenty-eighth. I have informed Korean minister foreign affairs that in compliance with the instructions of the Secretary of State, I have to-day placed the property and archives of his legation in the hands of the United States consul-general at Seoul and am about to withdraw from Korea.

Morgan.

I have, etc.,

Edwin V. Morgan.