Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-03
Abrupt Change by Japan
of Foreigners Status in
COreQ ArOuses British Ire
Promises That Europeans Rights Will Be Respected Thought
of Little Account in View of Solemn
Pledges Broken


Z, There can be no moral Justification OF
the action Japan has thought at TO take
! In this matter. All that can be offered in
excuse is that other Powers have on occa-
sion failed to keep their engagements
when they We're inconvGnicnt, II is true
there have been such cases. but no Power
ever broke Il pledge or failed to carry into
effect its voluntary guarantees or promises
without suffering in its future diplomatic
arrangements. It may be that not Il sin
gle Power will make n protest against the
annexation Of Corca or the cx,insuishment
of the foreign rights which Japan guar
anteed, but the incident, coming at the
very threshold of the revision OF the
treaties with Japan, Will Inevitably have q
! marked effect on the course Of those ne
gotations,"
| When cxtraterritor!ality was abolished
! In Japan 1t was done only after treaty
agreement with the Powers, the rights %
whose nationals would be affected by the
change. Foreigners who had propertv or
other rights in Japan were given live wears
notice OF the change. and had, in conse-
ruence, ample opportunity either TO dis
pose of their interests or to adJus, them
selves to the change. In the case of Corea
no such period of preparation is provided,
The blow came without official warning
With regard 10 the protection Of the IN
terestS OF foreigners, guaranteed by
EJapan's treaties. now extended TO cover
Corea. 1T Is only provided that these shall
n nplN fn, ,; hi ia
las conditions permit'-thc extent of the
applicability being. manifestly, determined
BY the Japanese government itself.
| The recently established Japanese courts
in Chosen have been much criticised by
foreigners resident in that new Japanese
dominion, and BY japanese themselves. II
has frequently been pointed out by
japanese publicists that among the men
appointed to the Corcan Judiciary there
are many whose ability is a doubtful guam
tity and that the system which makes the
judges dependent upon Interpreters Of
Questionable capacity and character Is
bad.
In the Anglo-Japanese alliance Great
Britain recognized Jnpan's right to take
such measures rs she desired for the
guidance, control and protection" of
Corca, but with an important proviso. This
wns:-"providei always that such meas
urcs are not contrary to the principles of
equal opportunities for the commerce and
Industry or all nations"
British critics point out that Japans an
neXation proclamation not only sweeps
away the Corean treaties, but assures only
limited equality OF opportunity for ton
years. The ten year concession prof.
nollnccd voluntary by the official press
of Japan. but asserted by E.nglshmen tol
be q concession wrung from Japan by thci
British Foreign Objects confined to I'm
port and expor, duties and to touungoI
dues.
Subject I" .Impan's Treaties.
For the rest foreigners and their trade
will be subject to the Japanese treaties.
now extended to Coren, hut only 80 far
as practicable" and $50 far as conditions
permit" As one English writer pits It's
These reservations arc disqnictnS.
Until their exact meaning Is established |
the whole status Of Foreigners and their ,
rights must depend on the unfottercd dis
crc,ion OF the Japanese. III this way their
equality of opportunity with the Jap
anese At the ports may prove-Hs II has
proved In Manchuria,-a barren privilege.
By our treaty with Corcn. for example.
We AFRO guaranteed especially against all
additional taxes and excise and trituslt
dues and by tho operation of tho mos:
favored nation clause against d!rercntial
treatment IN other respects. such as rail- [
way rates aud Industrial CONCESSIONS !,
Nothing of this now survives. The rcsul,
may De-and the Manchurian precedent
brings the prospect very d!saGroeably
Nthn the field OF probabiitics--thnt the
tariff equality on the coast will be de-
fcatcd by effective inequalities in :hu III
terror
In the light Of these conditions the
British Foreign Office is charged with CIV
ing away Rritisi, rights. Qn!tc naturally. /
I think the t'nglishinen who lind their
rights thus given away are streng theu4d
In their idea that the alliance is u decidedly
one sided affair, by which japan has
gained everything, and II mighty cost to
British interests and British prestige
]. Is. OIL.