The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-05
JAPAN AND KOREA
 MAKE AGREEMENT Korea Must Consult Japanese
 Representatives MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY Government Explains It as Being Natural Sequence of the Proto-
 col of February 23 With
 Hermit Kingdom. &
MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY

Tolxio, September 5.--The government to- day published the text of an agreement signed at Seoul on August 22 between rep resentatives of Japan and Korea. The agreement follows:
 T. The Korean government shall en- gage as financial adviser to the Korean government a Japanese subject recom- mended by the Japanese government, and all matters concerning finance shall be dealt with after his counsel has been taken.
 s2. The Korean government shall engage as diplomatic adviser to the department of foreign affairs a foreigner recommend ed by the Japanese government, and all important matters conceHiing foreign re- lations shall be dealt with after his coun- sel has been taken.
 8. The Korean government shall pre- viously consult the Japanese government in concluding treaties and conventions with foreign powers, and in dealing with other important diplomatic affairs. such as the granting of concessions or the mak- ing of contracts with foreigners
 The Japanese government explained the foregoing agreement to the representative of the Associated Press as follows:
 Is Natural Sequence.
 This agreement Is nothing more than natural and logical sequence to the pro- tocol of February 2S. It will be remem- bered that in this protocol the Japanese government undertook to give advice to the Korean government with regard to the improvements of administration, which advice the latter agreed to accept with full confidence. The financial embarrass- ment of the Korean government has in the past been a constant cause of inter- national trouble and the chief hindrance to the development of foreign commerce. This serious aspect of Korean admins tration naturally attracted the first att tention of the Japanese government.
 Tt will be remembered further that in the protocol it was stipulated that in case the welfare of the imperial house of Korea or the territorial integrity of Korea was endangered by the aggression of third power or by internal disturb ance the Japanese government was to take the measure made requisite by the circumstances. This stipulation makes 1t incumbent upon Japan to exercise care ful control respecting Korean diplomacy. In fact the responsibilities deyolving upon the Japanese government in consequence of this protocol of February g, can only be discharged by possessing con- sultive voice in all important questions of foreign intercourse, and in assisting Korea to secure trustworthy advisers to examine on the spot questions of inter national concern. Those measures to control Korean finance, and Korean for eign intercourse, do not in any way in- terfere with the full operation and vali- dity of Korea's existing treaties.
 Offers No impeachment.
 "Artice No. is not intened to place an impeachment upon the legitimate enter prise of the foreigners in the sphere of commerce and industry, but Is calculated to serve as precaution against the con- clusion of important and dangerous en7 agreements which in the past have proved to be sourcers of serious complications such as were shown conspicuously in the case of the Russian lease at Yongampho.
 Durham White Stevens, councillor of the Japanese legation at Washington will be the diplomatic adviser to the Korean government, while M. Magata, director aff 1na ~oxr ht.ra of r.rfII la