The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-20
The Corean Emperor and Japan.

Inc SOTcdu Emperor anu Japan,
According to a telegram from Toxic,
the Emperor of Corea decided on Thurs
day to abdicate yesterday, in compliance
with a formal demand of his Ministers
that he atone in M way or another for
the breach of faith committed by him
in authorizing the demand of a Corean
delegation for admission to the peace
conference. He seems TO have preferred
TO enounce the crown rather than accept
the suggested alternative Of proceeding
to Toxic for the purpose of offering an
apology to the Mikado, and incidentally Of
reafirming the agreement Of November
II, 1905, which he has violated.
A review Of the treaties, protocols and
agreements affecting the relations of
Japan and Corea made between July IS,
1894, and November II, 1905, will show
that the latter country had gradually ac-
cepted a status of ~vassalage, eliminating
In a compact by which the Toxic Govern
ment was to assume exclusive control
Of Corea's foreign relations. BY the
treaty OF July IS, 1894, the Corean Gov
eminent ~covenanted to give the Jap
enese all possible aid and comfort in
their wal against China in consideration
of their promise TO expel the Chinese
forces from the peninsula and to estab-
lish the independence of Corea. This
treaty, however, was 10 be binding on
neither of the parties after a peace should
have been made between Japan and
China. The next relevant document is
Q protocol signed by representatives of
Japan and Russia IN April IS. 1898, by
which the Japanese and Russian Gov
ernments definitely recognized the SOW
ereignty and complete independence Of
Corea and pledged themselves to refrain
from any direct interference in that
country's internal affairs. This proto-
col, like all other treaties between Japan
and Russia, was made imperative by
. the subsequent war between those Pow
ers. and the substance Of it was not re-
produced in the Peace of Portsmouth.
Valid, on the other hand, until il was
superseded by later conventions, was
the protocol concluded between japan
and Corea on Februar v %, 1904. soon
after the beginning of the Russo-Japa-
nese war. By the third article of that
compact the imperial Government of
Japan explicitly guaranteed the indie
pendence and territorial integrity of
the Corean Empire. By another article
OF the same protocol, however, the two
countries agreed that they would not
thereafter, without mutual consent,
1Anal,Ia mich a third DAurar s,,oh ~ -.
rangement as might be contrary to the
purpose of the document. which was to
maintain a permanent and solid friend
ship between the parties and to estab-
lish peace in the Far East. BY the same
protocol the Corean Government prom
ised 10 accept Japan's advice in regard
10 improvements to be made in internal
administration.
The next step toward a protectorate
wa taken on August -, 1904, when the
Corean Government agreed to Engage as
financial adviser a japanese subject and
to take no decisions concerning finances
except with his approval, also to engage
as diplomatic adviser 10 the Department
Of Foreign Affairs a foreigner recon-
mended by the Japanese Government,
who should be consulted as to all impor-
tant matters concerning foreign relations;
and finally not 70 conclude any treaty or
convention with a foreign Power or TO
make any concession 10 or contract with
foreigners until! the japanese Government
should have been consulted. The sub
c~4.iaation Of Corea to Japan was further