[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,]
Inclosure 1 in No. 1
Prince Ito to Mr. Ishii.
(Telegraphic.)
Seoul, July 13, 1908. COMPLAINTS have since some time been made to the Corean police authorities from various quarters against a Corean subject, Ryokitaku, engaged in the Corean edition of the "Dai-han-mai il Shimpo," on a charge of embezzlement of a fund raised in the name of the Foreign Loan Redemption League. Accordingly, Mr. Maruyama, Inspector-General of Police, sent for him on the night of the 12th July to examine him on the alleged charge, and on his appearance before the General Police Office has retained him there and has started the examination,
The British Consul-General presented on the 13th July a request for his release on the ground that at the time of the trial on Mr. Bethell's case, which required Ryo's presence in the Court as a witness, an assurance was given to him that he would not thereafter be arrested on a charge of having deposed the statements in favour of Mr. Bethell, and that consequently the action of the Inspector-General of Police in arresting him was likely to provoke serious misapprehension of the public. The Residency-General replied to Mr. Cockburn that the present case being in no way connected with Mr. Bethell's case, they found themselves unable to comply with the request of the British Consul-General. It was further explained that the police authorities were simply retaining him in order to proceed with necessary examination to which he spontaneously submitted himself, and that he was not, so far, under arrest as a convict. As Mr. Cockburn appears to place much importance on this incident, I telegraph the above information, hoping you will give necessary explanation to the British Ambassador.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31078]
No. 1.
34815 HE 542 [September 7.323F 08
SECTION 1.
Mr. Dering to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 7.) (No. 117.) Sir,
Stockholm, September 4, 1908. ON receipt of the instructions contained in your despatch No. 46 of the 29th April, Sir Rennell Rodd addressed an inquiry to the Swedish Government as to whether they would be prepared to conclude an Agreement with His Majesty's Government for the mutual protection of trade-marks in China and Corea, drawing their attention to the similar Agreements which have already been concluded with other Governments. I have the honour to report that the Secretary-General of the Swedish Foreign Office has just informed me that he regrets not to be able to reply yet to the note from this Legation, but that a proposal in connection with this question has been drawn up by the Swedish Government, which must first receive the sanction of the Riksdag. I understand that, whilst the Swedish Government are inclined in principle to meet the wishes of His Majesty's Government, they are unable to reply authoritatively until the Diet has met in January and sanctioned action in the matter.
Baron Ramel intimated that the answer of his Government could not, therefore, be expected before early next year.
I have, &c. (Signed) HERBERT G. DERING.
M. le Ministre,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to General Viscount Terauchi.
Tokyo, July 19, 1908. WITH reference to the arrest and imprisonment of the Corean editor of the "Dai-han-mai il Shimpo," which has already been brought unofficially to the notice of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs by this Embassy, I have now the honour to state that I have received instructions from my Government to lay before your Excellency the following
As the Japanese Government are aware, the Corean editor who has now been arrested and imprisoned was one of the witnesses at the recent trial of Mr. Bethell, the proprietor of the newspaper above mentioned, and express assurances were given at the time by the Japanese authorities in Corea that these witnesses would not suffer on account of evidence they had given.
His Majesty's Government place entire credence on Prince Ito's assurances that the arrest of the Corean editor has nothing to do with the recent prosecution of the proprietor of the paper; but the public in Corea, and, I might add, elsewhere, will not hold this view, especially as the man is said to have been enticed away by the police from the offices of the paper, so that his arrest could be effected outside British-owned premises. His Majesty's Government hope that the accused may be released on bail and allowed to communicate with his friends until such time as he is placed upon his public trial, which trial, they further trust, may take place without delay.
I am also instructed to point out to your Excellency that continued detention in prison without trial will make any further proceedings against the accused in an English Court impossible, as the defence would be able to allege that the witnesses for the defence were afraid to come forward, which would insure the failure of a prosecution.
I take, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
[1944 g-1]
1
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government,] 0.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1
Prince Ito to Mr. Ishii.
(Telegraphic.)
Seoul, July 13, 1908. COMPLAINTS have since some time been made to the Corean police authorities from various quarters against a Corean subject, Ryokitaku, engaged in the Corean edition of the "Dai-han-mai il Shimpo," on a charge of embezzlement of a fund raised in the name of the Foreign Loan Redemption League. Accordingly, Mr. Maruyama, Inspector-General of Police, sent for him on the night of the 12th July to examine him on the alleged charge, and on his appearance before the General Police Office has retained him there and has started the examination,
The British Consul-General presented on the 13th July a request for his release on the ground that at the time of the trial on Mr. Bethell's case, which required Ryo's presence in the Court as a witness, an assurance was given to him that he would not thereafter be arrested on a charge of having deposed the statements in favour of Mr. Bethell, and that consequently the action of the Inspector-General of Police in arresting him was likely to provoke serious misapprehension of the public. The Residency-General replied to Mr. Cockburn that the present case being in no way connected with Mr. Bethell's case, they found themselves unable to comply with the request of the British Consul-General. It was further explained that the police authorities were simply retaining him in order to proceed with necessary examination to which he spontaneously submitted himself, and that he was not, so far, under arrest as a convict. As Mr. Cockburn appears to place much importance on this incident, I telegraph the above information, hoping you will give necessary explanation to the British Ambassador.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[31078]
No. 1.
34815 HE 542 [September 7.323F 08
SECTION 1.
Mr. Dering to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 7.) (No. 117.) Sir,
Stockholm, September 4, 1908. ON receipt of the instructions contained in your despatch No. 46 of the 29th April, Sir Rennell Rodd addressed an inquiry to the Swedish Government as to whether they would be prepared to conclude an Agreement with His Majesty's Government for the mutual protection of trade-marks in China and Corea, drawing their attention to the similar Agreements which have already been concluded with other Governments. I have the honour to report that the Secretary-General of the Swedish Foreign Office has just informed me that he regrets not to be able to reply yet to the note from this Legation, but that a proposal in connection with this question has been drawn up by the Swedish Government, which must first receive the sanction of the Riksdag. I understand that, whilst the Swedish Government are inclined in principle to meet the wishes of His Majesty's Government, they are unable to reply authoritatively until the Diet has met in January and sanctioned action in the matter.
Baron Ramel intimated that the answer of his Government could not, therefore, be expected before early next year.
I have, &c. (Signed) HERBERT G. DERING.
M. le Ministre,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to General Viscount Terauchi.
Tokić, July 19, 1908. WITH reference to the arrest and imprisonment of the Corean editor of the "Dai-han-mai il Shimpo," which has already been brought unofficially to the notice of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs by this Embassy, I have now the honour to state that I have received instructions from my Government to lay before your Excellency the following
As the Japanese Government are aware, the Corean editor who has now been arrested and imprisoned was one of the witnesses at the recent trial of Mr. Bethell, the proprietor of the newspaper above mentioned, and express assurances were given at the time by the Japanese authorities in Corea that these witnesses would not suffer on account of evidence they had given.
His Majesty's Government place entire credence on Prince Ito's assurances that the arrest of the Corean editor has nothing to do with the recent prosecution of the proprietor of the paper; but the public in Corea, and, I might add, elsewhere, will not hold this view, especially as the man is said to have been enticed away by the police from the offices of the paper, so that his arrest could be effected outside British-owned premises. His Majesty's Government hope that the accused may be released on bail and allowed to communicate with his friends until such time as he is placed upon his public trial, which trial, they further trust, may take place without delay.
I am also instructed to point out to your Excellency that continued detention in prison without trial will make any further proceedings against the accused in an English Court impossible, as the defence would be able to allege that the witnesses for the defence were afraid to come forward, which would insure the failure of a prosecution.
I take, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
[1944 g-1]
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