CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 329

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No. 3 Bolosure in Tokyo N 530.

Copy.

318

British Embassy,

Tokio.

December lat, 1919.

My dear Yoshizawa,

You have no doubt seen Dr. Schofield's letter of November 21st in the Japan Advertiser of last Satur- day the 29th (page 4) giving instances of tortures under

police examination in Corea. The first of the two

cases quoted had already been reported to me from othor sources but I could scarcely bring myself to believe

that it could be true and I had dismissed it as an

exaggeration. But here we have it in dold print and

I cannot conceal from you the effect which, after all

the assurances given by the Imperial Government and which I have consistently conveyed to my Foreign Office,

it will produce at home.

In our conversation last Wednesday morning I referred to the delay which was being made in putting a stop to the barbarous flogging which goes on, and to

the plea given that it could not be abolished until more prison accommodation could be provided for the punish-

mont which would have to replace it. May I again

remind you that if ragnanimity could prevail and my

suggestion for a general amnesty for political offenders

could be adopted, the very act would provide all the

prison accommodation that could possibly be required.

While on the subject of Corsa, I may tell you

privately that I received an official despatch from

the Foreign office by the last mail on Friday enclosing

copy of a Resolution of the General Assembly of the

Fresbyterian Church of Victoria, forwarded

Governor-General of Australia to my Government dealing

by the

with