The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-07
JAPAN CONTROLS GOHEi.

IOhlO. CCplemUSI ..-Auo 0OFSIl-
ment today pubeished the text Of an
agreement signed at Seoul on August
%, between representatives of Japan
and Corea The agreement follows:
81 The Corean Government shall
engage as financial advisor to the
Corean Government a japanese subject
recommended by the japanese Gov
ernment and all matters concerning
finance shall be dealt with after his
counsel has been taken.
"2. The Corean Government shall
engage as diplomatic advisor to the
department of foreign a1airs, a for
eigner recommended by the japanese
Government, and all important mat
ters concerning foreign relations shall
dealt with after his counsel has been
taken.
"3. The Corean Government shall
previouly consult the japanese Govern
ment in concluding treaties with pow
ers, and in dealing with other diplo-
matte affairs, such as the granting
of concessions to or the making Of
contracts with foreigners
The japanese Government explained
the foregoing to the correspondents
as follows:
"This agreement is nothing more
than a natural and logical sequence
to the protocol of February 2. 1t
will be remembered that in this
protocol the japanese Government IN
derrtook to give advice to the Corean
government with regard to the i'm
provements of administration, which
advice the latter agreed to accept with
full confidence. The financial embar-
rassment of the Corean Government
has in the past been constant cause
of international trouble, and the chief
hindrance to the development of for
eign commerce. This serious aspect of
Corean administration naturally at
tracted the first attention of the jap
anese Government.
cit will be remembered further
that in the protocol it was stipulated
that in case the welfare of the imperial
house of Corea, or the territorial in
tegrity Of Corea was endangered by
the aggression of a third power or by
internal disturbance, the Japanse Gov
ernment was to take the measures
made requisite by the circumstances.
This stipulation makes it incumbent
upon Japan to exercise careful control
respecting Corean diplomacy. In fact,
the responsibilities devolving upon
the japanese Government in conse-
quence of this protocol of February %
can be discharged by possessing g
consultive voice in all important ques-
tion of foreign intercourse, and in as
sisting Corea to secure trustworthy
advisers to examine on the spot ques-
tions of international concern.
These measures to control Corean f.
nance and Corean foreign intercourse
do not in any way interfere with. the
full opeation and validity of Corea's
existing treaties.
s'Article No. 3 is not intended to
place any impediment in the legiti-
mate inter- commerce and industry,
but is calculated to serve as precau
tion against the conclusion of improvi-
dent and dangerous engagements,
which in the past have proved to be
sources of serious complications, such
as was shown conspicuously in the
ca of the Russian lease at Yongam-
pho.
Durham White Stevens, counsellor
of the japanese legation at Washing
ton, will be the diplomatic adviser
of the Corean Government, while NJ.
Megataxir, of the revenue bureau at
Toxic will be Corea's financial ad-
yiser.''