Office of the Historian

File No. 895.52/4.

[Untitled]

American Embassy,
Tokyo, April 8, 1911.

Sir: Referring to recent correspondence concerning the land-investigation law of Chosen, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of self-explanatory letters, dated March 20 and April 4, as received from the consul general at Seoul.

I have, etc.,

(For
Mr. O’Brien
.)
Montgomery Schuyler.
[Inclosure 1.]

The American Consul General to the American Ambassador.

American Consulate General,
Seoul, March 20, 1911.
No. 2139e.]

Sir: Referring to my No. 1754 E of December 9, 1910, and to your C. No. 1514 of February 7, 1911, relating to the land-investigation ordinance of August 24, 1910, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a letter from the director of the bureau of foreign affairs of the Government General of Chosen, together with a copy and translation of its inclosure. It will be noted that the promises made in Count Komura’s note of February 4, 1911, are substantially carried out thereby.

I have therefore the honor to request that I be informed whether I shall notify American citizens holding land to comply with the provisions of the ordinance in question.

I have, etc.,

Geo. H. Scidmore.
[Inclosure 2.]

The Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs to the American Consul General.

Government General of Chosen,
Keijo, March 18, 1911.
No. 26.]

Sir: An instruction has been given to the officials concerned concerning among others the acceptance of copy of consular registration as the information required [Page 336] to be submitted by landowners under the land-investigation law and the detailed regulations relating to its enforcement.

I have the honor to send you herewith inclosed a Japanese copy of the above instruction which you may notify to your nationals whom it may concern.

I have, etc,

M. Komatzu.
[Subinclosure—Translation.]

instructions to officials.

1.
Although the report in Article V of the investigation law should follow the form described in the detailed regulations, if a former resident’s land certificate or copy, or copy of a foreign consular land record be presented in lieu thereof by a landholder, such copy shall be considered as a report and accepted, and regular report need not be presented.
2.
Although Article VI of the investigation law provides for the actual presence of the landowner or his representative whenever the investigation official deems it necessary to ask for their presence, in case the presence of a landowner or his representative living at a distance is requested, investigation may be made with the presence of the heads of a town or village or other general representative of landholders who thoroughly understands the land of the district. Only in case the location or boundaries of the land are not clear without the actual presence of the landholder or his representative living at a distance shall they be summoned. Care shall be taken not to cause hardship to a landowner or his representative living at a distance. In case the presence of a landowner or his representative is requested, suitable time allowance should be made for mails and other circumstances.