JAPAN AND KOREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14925, 30 August 1910, Page 5

JAPAN AND KOREA

t ... . - — j ANNEXATION NOW OPERATIVE, j PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY. i _. Phis Association—By Telegraph—Copjrichl. LONDON, August 28. : The Korean Annexation Agreement becomes effective on the 29th inst. China raises no objection. TOKIO, .August 29. (Received August 29. at 10.10 p.m.) ' The treaty provides for a complete and permanent cession ami annexation, the conferment on the Emperor and Crown Prince of Korea, and their consorts and heirs appropriate titles of dignity and honour and annual grants, the conferment of peerages and grants to Koreans whose services are deserving of special recognition, and the employment in the public services of qualified Koreans loyally accepting the neiv regime. Tlio Japanese Government's statement as quoted declares that as the Korean treaties with foreign Powers will lapse Japan's existing treaties as far as practicable will be applied to Korea,. Foreigners resident is Korea as conditions will permit will enjoy the same rights and immunities as in Japan proper, and protection of their legallyacquired rights. NEW YORK, August 29. (Received August 29, at 10.10 p.m.) The Korean Treaty of Annexation has been published in Washington under arrangement between Mr Ucida. (the Japanese Ambassador) and Mr; Knox , (United States Secretary of Stale). KOREAN COMMERCE. • LONDON, August 28. It is officially announced that Korea's 1 existing commercial' regime will continue for a decade. SEOUL, August 29. (Received August 29, at 10.10 p.m.) The Korean tariff schedules covering imports and exports between Korea and all countries, including Japan, also the regulations governing the coasting trade and open ports will be continued for 10 years. Masamo will be withdrawn as an open port, and Chiwju .will be opened. The copyright and: patent laws of Japan will 1)3 extended to Korea. A statement explains that the existing system of Government entered upon since 1905 had not proved entirely equal to the duty of the maintenance of order and tranquillity. Moreover, a spirit of suspicion and misgiving dominates the whole peninsula; hence the present treaty. ' . The preamble declares that the Emperors of Japan and Korea, considering the special and dose relations between the respective countries, and desiring to promote the common welfare ot the two nations and to assure permanent peace in the Extreme East, are convinced that the objects aimed at can best be attained by annexation. _Lntil 1894 • China was tho suzerain of Rorea, but 'on the conclusion of the war in 1895 China relinquished her suzerainty and the independence of Korea was acknowledged. Then a struggle began with Russia, wliioh culminated' in tlie . Russo-Japanese war, and by the Pcaco 1 rcaty. between Russia and Japan, 1905, tho paramount interest of the latter country in Korea was acknowledged. A treaty between Korea and Japan, signed at Seoul, November 17, 1905, provided that Japan, through l the Department of Affairs in Tokio, should control and direct the external relations and affairs of Korea; that Japan should be represented at the Court of the Emperor of Korea by a Resident-general residing at Seoul, and 'have the right to station Residents at the several open ports and such , other places in Korea as it might deem nocesjarv. On the abdication of Yi Heui a. new convention was concluded on July 31, 1907, . and tho control of the country placed more" fully in the lands of Japan. . Under the Treaty of Portsmouth, which concluded' the Russo-Japanese war, the Russian lease of the Kwangtung Province, which includes the Port Arthur and tho Liaotung Peninsula, was transferred to Japan. This lease expires in 1923. The South Mancliurian railway was alio transferred bv Russia to Japan. The Japanese maintained that this lino was " t.lic one and only tangible nssot accruing to Japan in the sequel of a war which cost hor 100,000 men and 200 millions of treasure." The old regime in Korea swept away . by Japan (says The Tinifts) never deserved any atom of sympathy, but tho Koreans arc not tho only Oriental people who are apt to prefer misgovernnicnt at tho hands of their own rulers to all the advantages of a civilised but alien government. The magnitude of tho task assumed by a nation like tho Japanese, themselves still in a. state of transition, in undertaking to 'govern a vast and backward country with a population of 10 millions, would liavo taxed the resources of a country trained to colonial enterprise by the experience of many fenerations; and that it has been marred by tho high-handed action is not 1 to bs wondered at.