Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 223

RUSSO-JAPANESE AGREEMENT REGARDING COREA

AGREEMENT AS TO COREA

PROTOCOL

[Translation]

The Secretary of State, Prince Lobanow Rostovsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Russia, and the Marshal Marquis Yamagata, Ambassador Extraordinary of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan, having exchanged views on the situation of Corea, have concluded the following articles :-

Art. I.-The Russian and Japanese Governments, with the view of remedying the financial embarrassment of Corea, will advise the Corean Government to suppress all useless expenditure and to establish an equilibrium between the expenses and the revenue. If, as the result of admittedly indispensable reforms, it should become necessary to have recourse to foreign loans, the two Governments will lend by mutual accord their assistance to Corea.

Art. II.—The Russian and Japanese Governments will endeavour to leave to Corea, as soon as the financial and economical situation of that country will permit them to do so, the creation and maintenance of an armed force and of a native police in sufficient proportions to maintain internal order without foreign aid.

Art. III.—With the view of facilitating communications with Corea the Japanese Government will continue to administer the telegraph lines, which are at the present moment in its hands. Russia reserves the right to establish a telegraph line from Seoul to her own frontier. The different liues may be bought back by the Corean Government as soon as it has the means of doing so.

Art. IV.—In the event of any of the principles herein set forth requiring a more precise and more detailed definition, or if other points should arise on which it would be necessary for the two Governments to agree, their representatives shall be charged to consider the matter in a friendly sense.

Done at Moscow, May 28th (June 9th), 1896.

LOBANOW. YAMAGATA.

The following Memorandum, drawn up in English, is attached to the Moscow Convention:-

MEMORANDUM.

The Representatives of Russia and Japan at Seoul, having conferred under the identical instructions from their respective Governments, have arrived at the follow. ing conclusions :

J

Art. I. While leaving the matter of his Majesty the King of Corea's return to the palace entirely to his own discretion and judgment, the Representatives of Russia and Japan will friendly advise his Majesty to return to that place, when no doubts concerning his safety could be entertained.

The Japanese Representative on his part gives the assurance that the most complete and effective measures will be taken for the control of Japanese 8o8hi.

Art. II. The present Cabinet Ministers have been appointed by his Majesty from his own free will, and most of them held Ministerial or other high offices during the last two years, and are known to be liberal and moderate men. The two Representa- tives will always aim at recommending to his Majesty to appoint liberal and moderate men as Ministers and to show clemency to his subjects. oog e