Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1910

File No. 895.00/496.

Ambassador O’Brien to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
Tokyo, September 19, 1910.

No. 1228.]

Sir: Referring to the embassy’s dispatch No. 1215 of August 24 last,¹ relative to the annexation of Korea, transmitting copies of certain imperial ordinances issued in connection therewith, I have the honor to inclose herewith translations of two additional ordinances, Nos. 318 and 319, which have since been promulgated.

Ordinance No. 318 provides that the name “Kankoku” (Korea) shall be altered to “Chosen” (Morning Calm). The former has heretofore been the official designation, although both names have been used interchangeably in ordinary parlance. The reason for the selection of “Chosen” as the official name of the annexed territory is that it does not contain, as does “Kankoku,” any verbal root signifying “nation” (koku) and implying an independent national existence.

Ordinance No. 319 establishes a government general in Chosen. Under its provisions the resident general will temporarily discharge the functions of governor general. The offices of the residency general will remain as they are for the time being, and (with the exception of the cabinet and the board of decorations) the offices which have heretofore been subject to the Korean Government will be subject to the government general of Chosen. Officials serving in the latter offices will continue to receive the same treatment as previously accorded them by the Korean Government.

The foregoing ordinance is only provisional, and will soon be superseded by others creating a comprehensive scheme of government. The drafts of the new ordinances were brought to Tokyo by Vice Resident General Yamagata on the 14th instant, at present being in the hands of the colonial bureau, and will be submitted to the deliberations of the privy council within a few days.

I have, etc.,

T. J. O’Brien.

[Inclosure—Translation.

Official Gazette, August 29, 1910.

We hereby sanction and cause to be promulgated the ordinance relating to the alteration of the name “Kankoku” (Korea) to “Chosen.”

• Sign Manual.
• Privy Seal.

August 29, 1910.

(Countersigned) Marquis Taro Katsura, Prime Minister.

Imperial ordinance No. 318.—The name “Kankoku” is hereby changed, and the country shall henceforth be called “Chosen.”

Supplementary clause.—This ordinance shall take effect on the day of promulgation.

[Translation.]

Official Gazette, August 29, 1910.

We hereby sanction and cause to be promulgated the ordinance relating to the establishment of the government general of Chosen, regarding which the privy council has been consulted.

• Sign Manual.
• Privy Seal.

August 29, 1910.

(Countersigned) Marquis Taro Katsura, Prime Minister.

Imperial ordinance No. 319.—There shall be established in Chosen the government general of Chosen.

In the government general of Chosen there shall be a governor general who shall, within the scope of the powers invested in him, command the army and navy and exercise general control over all Government affairs.

The residency general and the Government offices subject thereto shall remain as they are for the time being, and the functions of governor general of Chosen shall be discharged by the resident general.

The Government offices which have heretofore been subject to the Korean Government shall, with the exception of the cabinet and the board of decorations, be regarded as Government offices, subject to the government general of Chosen, and shall remain as they are for the time being.

The officials serving in the Government offices mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be accorded treatment similar to that which was accorded them during their service under the former Korean Government. Shinnin officials, according to the former Korean laws, shall be treated as shinnin officials; chokunin officials, as chokunin officials; sonin officials, as sonin officials; and hannin officials, as hannin officials.¹

Those who have been employed by the Korean Government, retaining their regular positions (in Japan), shall be subject to imperial ordinance No. 195 of 1904.²

Supplementary clause.—This ordinance shall take effect on the day of promulgation.

1. Not printed.
1. Shinnin, personally appointed by the Emperor; chokunin, appointed by the Emperor; sonin, appointed by the cabinet with the approval of the Emperor; hannin, appointed by a chief of department.
2. Ordinance No. 195 provides that, when a Government official has been engaged by a foreign Government without resigning his regular position in Japan be allowed to retain his position, an additional position being created for the substitute acting in his absence, but he shall not be entitled to the salary or traveling expenses pertaining thereto.