The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-14

|
hama Chamber of Commerce is found
the following account of a meeting OF
the Oriental Association, containing an
important speech by Marquis Ito deal
ing with the japanese occupation or
Korea:
| The Formosan Association has been
renamed the Oriental Association. on
| account OF the extension Of its interests
from Formosa to Korea and Manchuria.
| An inaugural meeting of this new AS
ISOLATION was held at the San-en-tel,
Shiba Park, on Tokyo, February 3rd.
There were present Marquis Ito. Count
Katsura. General Terauchi. Mr.. Hara,
Baron Goto, and others, numbering
over 300.
| Count Katsura, President of the AS
| ISOLATION, delivered q speech dwelling
on the history of the Association. since
| it's organization in 1898. He described
| the work of the Association in train
| ing students for the colonial service
The establishment or the protectorate
over Korea and acquisition Of the
lease of KWantung rendered it neces-
sary for the Association to assume the
present task of paying attention to
the exploitation of Korea and Man
churia, as it had done in the past to
Formosa alone. He asked those pres
ent for their cooperation in promoting
the work of the Association.
MARQUIS Ito expressed his apprecia-
ton of the work rendered by the As
in
Formosa, and thanked it for the new
efforts directed to Korea. In reference
to that country, he delivered a very
important speech, saying that in his
work in Korea, he had in view four
objects: first to preserve the territorial
integrity; secondly, to give advice for
the Improvement of the admipistra-
ton; thirdly, to place Korean foreign
affairs under the control of Japan;
and lastly, to guarantee the security
of the Korean Imperial Household.
But Korea at present was unable to
protect her territory with her own mil
itary force. Japan had therefore not
only to defend Korean territory, but
to improve her administration. The
given to Japan by the Jap
ananese-Korean Agreement in this con-
nection was quite inadequate to ensure
the smooth execution of these tasks.
There had been a time when a section
of the Koreans rose against the Japa-
nese authority. But at present, the |
true intention of Japan was being ap- |
preciated by the Koreans. In the work |
relating to administrative reforms, our |
task was to teach Korea what we had
experienced in Japan. In education |
and other state affairs, reforms had
been started by consultation of the
Japanese and Korean authorities, The
in carrying out reforms in
Korea was that we were mere advis-
ers, and the Koreans the real actors.
The work was unavoidably subject to
delay. it being impossible to tax
Korea with heavy burdens at present.
Formosa had no independent ruler.
But Korea was different. The country
was seven or eight times as large as
Formosa; her population numbered
about II millions; she had a history
almost as long as that of Japan, and
Turing that period had kept in touch
With Chinese civilization, There ex-
sted an idea as a state, and the peo-
pie had a strong racial union, though
lot of a political character. Our work
n Korea was therefore more difficult
han in Formosa. The Koreans, again,
we're full of suspicious. 1t was not I'M
natural that they should be afraid that
Japan would annex their country. The
existence of such apprehension being
INJURIOUS to the welfare of Korea, he
lad declared to the Korean authori-
les that Japan's intention was to as
list and civilize Korea, to cooperate
With her in promoting her and our in
erests, and to safeguard the peace of
he Far East. He had also said that
ny attempt on the part of Korea to
ppose this policy would bring evil re-
ults to her. He regretted to say that
lis efforts to dissipate Korean suspicion
we're often frustrated by the careless
tterances of Japanese journals.
In conclusion, the Marquis said that
Korea abounded in natural resources,
which could be advantageously worked
~ the surplus population of Japan.
Politics had no direct productive pow
r. He hoped that the Association
would send many talented persons to
Korea to exploit the natural wealth
lie would be sincerity gratified to be
assisted by the Association In carry
ng out his work in Korea.
Baron Goto was the next speaker.
lie said the colonial policy had to be
ictated by the spirit of peace. Its OBJ
ect was that a people of higher intel
ect and of more advanced civilization
hould bring up another people of in
erior standard to an equal degree of
1t was the primary OBJ
ect of the Association to bring about
happy blending of the Eastern and