CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 398

KOREAN DELEGATION

TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE IN SESSION AT PARIS :

THE PETITION of the KOREAN PEOPLE AND NATION for libe- ration from Japan and for the recon- stitution of Korea as an independent

state

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH;

The Korean People have been a nation for more than 4,200 years, with

a settled life and culture and with their country forming one of the historic states of Asia. During most of these Forty-two Centuries, Korea enjoyed national independence.

KOREAN INDEPENDENCE RECOGNISED.

2. The continued existence of Korea as a separate and sovereign state was recognised by Japan, the United States, Great Britain and other foreign Powers in their respective treaties of peace and commerce concluded with the Korean Government.

In the Treaty with the United States, signed at Seoul on May 22, 1882, it was expressly agreed that "if other Powers deal injustly or oppressively with either Government the other will exert their good offices, on being informed of the case, to bring about an amicable arrangement, thus showing their friendly feelings. "

In the Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed on April 17, 1895, Japan insisted on China's definite recognition of the "full and complete independence and autonomy of Korea". And in the first Anglo-Japanese agreement of alliance, concluded on January 30, 1902, Japan and Great Britain affirmed and substantially guaranteed the independence of Korea. Lastly, in the Treaty of Defensive and Offensive Alliance made between the Japanese Government and the Korean Government in 1904, Japan specifically guaranteed the independence and integrity of Korea.

KOREAN INDEPENDENCE AS AN INTERNATIONAL DOCTRINE.

3.-These treaties not only affirmed and confirmed the separate existence of Korea as a sovereign state but they established, it is submitted, Korean inde- pendence on the basis of an international authority and sanction which no single Power could violate without subjecting its action to eventual revision by other Powers.

JAPAN'S VIOLATION OF KOREAN INDEPENDENCE.

4. Such a violation of Korean independence was committed by Japan when the Japanese Government-by acts of fraud and force-compelled the conclu-

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