Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 749

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CHOSEN

treaty of friendship and commerce was signed by the Corean Government at Jenchuan (Chemulpo) with Commodore Shufeldt on behalf of the United States. A Treaty with England was signed by Sir Harry Parkes on the 26th November, 1883; in 1884 treaties were also concluded with Germany and Russia, and later with France, Italy, and Austria. The native population of Corea is estimated to be between 14,000,000 and 15,000,000. The foreign population in 1912, exclusive of Japanese, was 16,589, of whom 15.517 were Chinese and 212 British. The latter are mostly missionaries. The Japanese population in 1914 was 290,455 as against 278,065 in 1913. Since the Russo-Japanese war, the Japanese population has increased at the rate of between 20 and 30 per cent. One small English newspaper, the Seoul Press (conducted by Japanese), is published in Seoul.

The industries of Corea are mainly agricultural. The foreign trade of the country has shown steady development under the fostering care of the Japanese. In 1904, the total value of the country's foreign trade was yen 34,933,306. In 1914 the value was yen 97,620,248-exports yen 34,388,787, and imports yen 63,231,461. This shows a falling off, of more than 8 million yen in exports, but an increase of more than 34 million yen in exports as compared with 1913. Japan naturally does the bulk of the trade, her share in 1914 being 617 per cent. of the imports and 83′2 per cent. of the exports. China comes next with 123 per cent. of imports, and 131 per cent. of exports. The port of Masampo has been closed to foreign trade, but the others- Chemulpo, Fusan, Wonsan, Chininampo, Kunsan, Mokpo, Songchin, Shimoyu and Chongchin-continue to be open ports. The jurisdiction of Consular Courts was abolished under the proclamation of annexation, and foreigners are therefore now amenable to the Japanese courts, as they are in Japan proper.

The principal articles of import are cotton manufactures, and of export, rice, beans hides and live stock. The export of rice alone amounted to 17,098,581 yen, showing an increase of 2,605,004 yen, as compared with the preceding year. Owing to the demand for Korean cow-hides and live stock in Russia, the exports of these products rose in value to over 2,000,000 yen, being an increase of over half a million yen aş against the preceding year. On the other hand, there was a decrease in export of graphite and beans caused by the European crisis. Export of the former product, chiefly destined for Europe, has practically stopped since September, 1914, while export of beans to Japan was discouraged by the falling-off in the market price which was affected by the Manchurian bea., its export to Europe becoming extremely dull. There is a considerable paper-making i. .ustry, which is entirely in the hands of the peasantry, its great draw- back being lack of capital. Gold mining has in recent years become an important industry. There are several gold mines now being worked by British, American, French and Italian syndicates. A number of placer and other mines are worked by natives on a small scale and by Japanese. Anthracite coal is mined by the Govern- ment at Pyngyong. The largest of the enterprises at present is the Unsan mine operated by an American syndicate known as the Oriental Consolidated Mining Co. Its annual output is over 3,000,000 yen. Nearly 3,000 hands are employed, and the Company pays to the Government an annual royalty of yen 25,000; the British concession, worked by the Korean syndicate, is in the Su-an district of Hu-wang province. In 1912 its output of gold was worth 1,096,000 yen, in addition to which silver and copper valued at 140,000 yen was won. French and the Italian concessions are in the province of Pyong an. The Collbran-Bostwick Development Co. of America has the most important copper mine, situated in the southern part of Ham-Kyung province. The output of minerals in 1913 was worth yen 8,110,412 as against yen 6,815,113 in 1912. Seventy per cent. of this output consisted of gold.

A brighter era dawne:l for trade and commerce and much else in Corea when the agreement of 1904 was negotiated, giving to Japan virtual control of the administration. Japan lost no time in exercising the power she had acquired. The reform of the effete, incompetent and corrupt administration which had for centuries been in vogue in Corea was a task of no little magnitude. The old order of things cannot be changed in a day, or a decade, but a most promising commencement has been made. Japan has set to work organising, as among the first essentials of good government, a judicial system which will guarantee the honest and impartial administration of justice by trained judges. A beginning has also been made with the codification of the laws of the country, Gradually the system of local administration is being reformed in a manner which will eliminate old political abuses and lead up ultimately to a system of local autonomy. Reform of the financial administration has received a great deal of attention with excellent results, and among other branches of administration which have been already inoculated with the leaven of reform are the Educational and the Police systems.

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