page_title: Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905
section_title: Controversy
hierarchical_section_title: Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 / Treaty provisions / Controversy
caption_attribution_description: en:Gojong of Korea's retraction of the en:Eulsa Treaty, sent to England in 1905. Retrieved from [1] Partial transcription: (Translation) To His Majesty the King of England -- Greeting[s]: For many years the Government of Korea has born relations with the Government of Great Britain and evidences of the good-will of that Power. In this _____ we feel that all people who desire to ___ sympathize with us. In order to show that great in ___ done ___ we hereby declare that the so-called treaty [of] 1905 was fraudulent, because, (1) the signatures of the Cabinet were obtained by intimidation and ___ authorised the ____ to sign the document, of the Cabinet at which it was signed was illegal, neither at our call nor that of the Prime Minister ____ themselves. In view of the fact that we are at the present a dependent Power .... yes to re-establish .... ___ .... desired will fully accept .... In witness whereof we .... the Imperial ___ Once .... 親書 大韓國太皇帝 _ _ 致書于 大英國 _ 印度國大皇帝陛下 ....
context_page_description: The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty, Eulsa Unwilling Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905. The treaty deprived Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty and made Korea a protectorate of Imperial Japan. It resulted from Imperial Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.
context_section_description: Emperor Gojong sent personal letters to major heads of state to appeal for their support against the illegal signing. As of February 21, 1908, he had sent 17 letters bearing his imperial seal, to the following eight rulers:
  King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
  President Armand Fallières of France
  Emperor Nicholas II of Russia
  Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary
  King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
  King Leopold II of Belgium
  Emperor Kuang-hsu of China
  Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, which was personally handwritten by Gojong
  In 1907, Emperor Gojong sent three secret emissaries to the second international Hague Peace Convention to protest the unfairness of the Eulsa Treaty. But the great powers of the world refused to allow Korea to take part in the conference.
  Not only the Emperor but other Koreans protested against the Treaty. Jo Byeong-se and Min Yeong-hwan, who were high officials and led resistance against Eulsa treaty, killed themselves as resistance. Local yangbans and commoners joined righteous armies. They were called "Eulsa Euibyeong" (을사의병, 乙巳義兵) meaning "Righteous army against Eulsa Treaty".
  After completing the treaty, Emperor Gojong tried to let the world know the unfairness of the treaty, including sending a special envoy to The Hague. This directly contributed to the forced retirement of King Gojong.
caption: Gojong's analysis of the "treaty of 1905"
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