Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-22
SENATE ASKS FOR
ROOTS LETTERS
Wants Diplomatic Correspondence
Between Former Secretary
and Korea.
NEEDS IT FOR CAMPAIGN USE


WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The
senate today adopted a resolution by
Chairman stone OF the foreign rela-
lions committee. asking President
Wilson to submit the correspondence
between the United States and
Korea when Japan occupied the
Hermit kingdom during the Russo
Japanese war.
Administration leaders. It was
said, want to use the information in
reply to ElIhu Roots attack on the
president because no protest was
made against the occupation Of Bel
GUM. Mr.. Root was secretary OF
state when Japan took Korea.
Senator stones resolution calls upon
the president to transmit. II not inoom-
patibla with the public interest. CORE
-pondence or 20 much thereof as. In his
Yointon NAV be made public. between Of
ficIai representative Of the United States
government and the representatives OF
Korea relating 20 the occupation OF
Korea and esta bllshment Of a protector
ate over said country by Japan during
or a. an incident OF the Russo-Japanese
war In 19ot-i9o5."
what Treaty said.
Administration officials said today they
proposed TO show by the correspondence
that the United States was bound by
treaty TO aid Korea, whereas the treaty
with Belgium provides only that the
United States should respect the neu-
trnlity Of Belgium.
The treaty Of 1852 between the United
states and Korea contains the following
article:
'Tf other powers deal unjustly or OPP
pressiveIy with either government the
other will exert their good offices on
being Informed Of the case to bring
about an amicable arrangement. thua
showing their friendly feeling"
They declare that both Colonel Roose-
Welt, as president and Mr.. Root as sec
Rotary OF state ignored an appeal from
Korea.
some In the Files.
The foreign relations committee dis
covered today that some Of the CORES
pondenee bearing on the matter was In
it's files.
A letter from Secretary Root to Yueng-
Tchen, special envoy OF Korea. without
credentials, dated December 10. 1906. said;
"since your visit we have received the
following communication from Mr.. KIM
the regularly accredited charge daft
flares Of Korea IN Washington;
~ have the honor 90 acknowledge
the receipt Of your note Of the Gath
ultimo, informing me that by agreement
signed on November II by the pienipo-
tentiaries OF Japan and Korea by which
Japan becomes the medium for conduct
ing the foreign relations OF Korea you
had. uhder date, Of tho 2tth ultimo teie-
Eraphsd the Amsrican minister TO With
draw from Korea
I have further 10 inform YOU that
have this day received instructions from
Mr.. II Wan YONG. the acting minister
Of foreign Gffairs OF Korea 10 transfer
60 the Japanese legation the archives
and other property In my charge
81 Are oat4e rncoRsiatent.
,rn view Of this official oommunica-
ton Il Il difficult TO see how the govern
snent OF the United States can proceed
IN any manner upon the entirely differ
emit View Of the facts which you tell Ms
personally you had been led 10 take BY
the Information which you have received
Il Is 20 be observed. moreover, that ths
official communications from the Jap
aneae government together with the Of
fetal communication from the Korean
government are quito inconsistent with
your information
III. however, the difficulty Of comply
ing with your wishes were mrmounted
we should be met by the fact that on
February q. isos, and on August 2. 1904
the Korean government concluded with
the Japanese government treaties which
are not now IN any respect impeaehet
or questioned BY which Korea gave "a
Japan such extensive control over III
affairs and put itself 50 completely un'
der the protection OF the government OF
Japan AZ TO render completely impossible
che Application OF the provisions OF IN
treaty with the United States abov'
quoted.
A Compfeta BaF.
The aforementioned treaties between
Japan and Korea appear to be OF such
a character as practically TO give japan
control over the foreign relations OF
Korea and 70 make the latest treaty OF
November II. isa6. which IL now called
into question. but a slight advance upor
the relations of control previously exist
ing. Those previous relations OF oontro
amount 10 a complete bar 10 any inter
ference by the United States under th'
treaty OF ise1
Under all these circumstances fee
bound 10 advise you that the government
Of the United states does not conside
that any good purpose would be sub
served by taking notice OF your state
nentn."
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