Show KOREAS KOREA'S 9 s i S ABSORPTION N BY JAPAN JAPAN i After ars of neg negotiations t and dickering Korea K has been made a a. a complete dependency y of off f J-i J Ja Japan an n. n The steps that have l led d up to it may be briefly fi st stated ted as follows s B B By the treaty of July 25 1894 Korea agre agreed d to Yeat ne a all possible aid and comfort to Japan in its ed to all Chinese ai war w-ith w China Japan agreed expel f from Korea rea and t to establish the i independence dependence of that cO country I Je Next ton on April 25 1898 Russia and Japan recognized recognized d the sovereignty and complete independence of K Fovea Korea rea and pledged themselves to refrain from any direct interference in the internal affairs of that i c country t This was made inoperative b by th the war bet between be- be t- t ten teen en Russia and nd Jap Japan n and no reference was made to it in the Portsmouth treaty ty and l Kor Korea of ofF But a protocol between Japan aJ a F February br rj 23 3 1904 was still valid In one arti article le of v- v that tJ that t pro protocol l Jap Japan n expressly guaranteed d th the independence inde- inde p nd nce and territorial integrity of Korea But by another nother article the two countries agreed that thereafter thereafter thereafter there there- after without mutual consent neither power would r r eon conclude with any third power po any arrangement conto contrary con- con 1 tj to the purpose of the document lent which wa was to tor toI r I maintain a a permanent and solid friendship between the parties and to establish pea peace peace in the Far East By the same protocol Korea agreed to accept J Japans Japan's Jap Jap- ape aps ails an's advice in regard to improvements to be made in internal ierna administration Then hen on August 22 1904 Korea agreed to engage as as financial adviser a a Japanese subject and to take takeno no decisions concerning finance except with his aPproval approval ap- ap ij also aiso to engage engage a diplomatic adviser to the theDe i De Dep Department nt of Foreign Affairs a s foreigner ner recommended recommended t mended by Japan who should b bp consulted as to all alls k s matters natt rs concerning foreign relations and finally to conclude conclude any ny treaty or convention with any t f foreign power pov o or to make any c concession to or contract contra contract con con- tra tract t with fore foreigners u until til J Japan apa should have been consulted Another ag agreement signer signel April 1 1905 still furth fur- fur th thed d sub subordinated d I Korea or a- a ato to to J Japan Japari pa By it Korea a agreed that Jap Japan n. n should h. h take over ovel and operate the r tp rP post ost st st. t telegraph ap and t telephone f. f service e eo o of K Korea r a and and authorized J Japan pan to appropriate land and nd buildings for the purpose of ext extending said system of f ni a ions fur Further Japan was was given authority to i 1 1 handle t the e s system stem m. m in all transactions transactions n with foreign 2 governments and Japan should m moreover moreover re ver make any needed ded l conti-l contracts with foreign countries in u regard to such service yB- yB B By another agreement made ade November 5 1905 a full Japanese J protectorate over over Korea was mated It gave y the he control and direction of the ex- ex relations o of Korea orea to the Department of Foreign Foreign Fm For For- eign ign Aff Affairs irs at at Tokio and diplomatic and consular t i r representatives pr of Japan should have charge of the subjects and interests s of K Korea rea in fore foreign countries r Japan by this compact agreed to see to the execution execution tion of the treaties actu actually Uy existing between Korea and outside foreign countr countries es an and Korea ree ao-ree agreed that thereafter h it would not perform any act o or conduct any n engagement le t. t of f a an 1 international character save r through the medium of the Tokio Toldo Government When t the late Korean Korean Emperor demanded for his sen t- t r recognition at at The Hague without consulting i 1 Japan he violated ted this treaty t f. f When summoned to explain his act he preferred to to resign in favor of f his son and nd now Japan has hag t r f full lI control It in effect makes Korea a part art of ot ott t c Japan It adds to Japans Japan's s area area square mil miles s and 1 people It adds one half one half more to L J Japans Japan's s t territory and one-fourth one more to her lation ration 4 If f Japan will will d do the the right thing bJ by the Koreans p perhaps the absorption t Of nf f the country may not be a abad abad 1 bad for t the e Korean 1 G Government was hardly I fit to exist but in the several insidious steps taken by bJ Japan as as s noted above it is easy to see what the intention was from the first She began as a friend sh she was was was was' to o free r e i Korea of Chinese and guarantee the integrity of t the o territory and the independence o of the country She continued by slow approaches to extend her rule until now because the Korean Emperor Emperor Em Em- sent delegates to a peace congress without asking ask ask- mg ing J Japans Japan's pan s 's conse consent t Japan pleads that t Korea has broken a a treaty and th that t is her excuse for absorbing absorbing absorbing absorb absorb- ing a country half as great in area as her own own And the remark of Viscount of-Viscount Hayashi that China may w well ll profit by Koreas Korea's experience means that tha the same sam plan is is on on foot to absorb Manchuria anc and that it will ivill be done in such a way that when it itis is consummated Japan will be ready again to justify her act on the tile ground that China had violated some contract i f- f Japan niong nations is wh what i the thief am nf men men is who in the g guise se of f a 30 friend p plans aus to rob his neighbor and when he consummates his plans simulates a a a great sorrow but stick sticks to the ilie stolen goods |