Agreement of 1905, the existing system of government in that country. has not proved entirely equal to the duty of preserving public order and tranquillity; and, in addition, the spirit of suspicion and misgiving dominates the whole peninsula.

In order to maintain peace and stability in Korea, to promote the prosperity and welfare of Koreans, and at the same time to ensure the safety and repose of foreign residents, it has been made abundantly clear that fundamental changes in the actual régime of government are absolutely essential. The Governments of Japan and Korea, being convinced of the urgent necessity of introducing reforms responsive to the requirements of the situation and of furnishing sufficient guarantee for the future, have, with the approval of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan and his Majesty the Emperor of Korea, concluded, through their respective plenipotentiaries, a treaty providing for complete annexation of Korea to the Empire of Japan. By virtue of that important act, which shall take effect on its promulgation on August 29, 1910, the Imperial Government of Japan undertake the entire government and administration of Korea, and they hereby declare that the matters relating to foreigners and foreign trade in Korea shall be conducted in accordance with the following rules:

1. Treaties hitherto concluded by Korea with foreign powers ceasing to be operative, Japan's existing treaties will, so far as practicable, be applied to Korea. Foreigners resident in Korea will, so far as, conditions permit, enjoy the same rights and immunities as in Japan proper, and the protection of their legally acquired rights subject in all cases to the jurisdiction of Japan. The Imperial Government of Japan are ready to consent that the jurisdiction in respect of the cases actually pending in any foreign Consular Court in Korea at the time the Treaty of Annexation takes effect shall remain in such Court until final decision. 2. Independently of any conventional engagements formerly existing on the subject, the Imperial Government of Japan will for a period of ten years levy upon goods imported into Korea from foreign countries or exported from Korea to foreign countries and upon foreign vessels entering any of the open ports of Korea the same import or export duties and the same tonnage dues as under the existing schedules. The same import or export duties and tonnage dues as those to be levied upon the aforesaid goods and vessels will also for a period of ten years be applied in respect of goods imported into Korea from Japan or exported from Korea to Japan and Japanese vessels entering any of the open ports of Korea.

3. The Imperial Government of Japan will also permit for a period of ten years vessels under flags of the powers having treaties with Japan to engage in the coasting trade between the open ports of Korea and between those ports and any open port of Japan.

4. The existing open ports of Korea, with the exemption of Masampo, will be continued as open ports, and in addition Shiwiju will be newly opened so that vessels, foreign as well as Japanese, will there be admitted and goods may be imported into and exported from these ports.

TREATY ANNEXING KOREA TO JAPAN.

August 29, 1910.

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and his Majesty the Emperor of Korea, having in view the special and close relations between their respective countries, desiring to promote the common weal of the two nations and to assure permanent peace in the Exome East, and being convinced that these objects can be best attained tv the annexation of Korea to the Empire of Japan, have resolved to conclude a treaty of such annexation and have, for that purpose, appointed as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say, his Majesty the Emperor of Japan Viscount Masakata Terauchi, his Resident-General, and his Majesty the Emperor of Korea Ye Wan Yeng, his Minister-President of State, who upon mutual conference and deliberation have agreed to the following articles:

Article I. His Majesty the Emperor of Korea makes complete and permanent cession to his Majesty the Emperor of Japan of all rights of Sovereignty over the whole of Korea.

Article II. His Majesty the Emperor of Japan accepts the cession mentioned in the preceding article and consents to the complete annexation of Korea to the Empire of Japan.

Article III. His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will accord to their Majesties the Emperor and ex-Emperor and his Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Korea and their consorts and heirs such titles, dignities, and honors as are appropriate to their respective ranks, and sufficient annual grants will be made for the maintenance of such titles, dignities and honors.

Article IV. His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will also accord appropriate honor and treatment to the members of the Imperial House of Korea and their heirs other than those mentioned in the preceding article,

and funds necessary for the maintenance of such honor and treatment will be granted.

Article V. His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will confer peerages and monetary grants upon those Koreans who, on account of meritorious. services, are regarded as deserving such special recognition.

Article VI. In consequence of the aforesaid annexation the Government of Japan assumes the entire government and administration of Korea, and undertake to afford full protection for the persons and property of the Koreans obeying the laws there in force and to promote the welfare of all such Koreans.

Article VII. The Government of Japan will, so far as circumstances permit, employ in the public services of Japan in Korea those Koreans who accept the new régime loyally and in good faith and who are duly qualified for such services.

Article VIII. This treaty, having been approved by his Majesty the Emperor of Japan and his Majesty the Emperor of Korea, shall take effect from the date of its promulgation.

In faith thereof, &c.

IMPERIAL JAPANESE RESCRIPT ATTACHED TO THE PROCLAMATION AND TREATY OF ANNEXATION.

We, attaching the highest importance to the maintenance of permanent peace in the Orient and the consolidation of lasting security to our Empire, and finding in Korea constant and fruitful sources of complication, caused our government to conclude in 1905 an agreement with the Korean Government by which Korea was placed under the protection of Japan in the hope that all disturbing elements might thereby be removed and peace assured for ever. For the four years and over which have since elapsed, our government have exerted themselves with unwearied attitude to promote reforms in the administration of Korea, and their efforts have, in a degree, been attended with success, but at the same time, the existing régime of government in that country has shown itself hardly effective to preserve peace and stability, and in addition the spirit of suspicion and misgiving dominates the whole peninsula.

In order to maintain public order and security, and to advance the happiness and well-being of the people, it has become manifest that fundamental changes in the present system of government are inevitable.

We, in concert with his Majesty the Emperor of Korea, having in view this condition of affairs, and being equally persuaded of the necessity of annexing the whole of Korea to the Empire of Japan in response to the actual requirement of the situation, have now arrived at the arrangement for such permanent annexation. His Majesty the Emperor of Korea and the members of his Imperial House will, notwithstanding the annexation, be accorded due and appropriate treatment. All Koreans, being under our sway, will enjoy growing prosperity and welfare, and with assured repose and security will come a marked expansion in industry and trade. We confidently believe that the new order of things now inaugurated will serve as a fresh guarantee of enduring peace in the Orient. We order the establishment of a Governor-General of Korea. The Governor-General will under our direction exercise the command of the army and the navy and a general control over all administrative functions in Korea. We call upon all our officials and authorities to fulfil their respective duties in appreciation of our will, and to conduct the various branches of administration in consonance with the requirements of the occasion, so that our subjects may long enjoy the blessings of peace and tranquillity.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JAPANESE FOREIGN OFFICE.

August, 29, 1910.

1. Korea shall hereafter be named "Chosen."

2. The Government-General shall be established in Chosen.

3. The Residency-General and its accessory offices will be in existence for the present, and the Resident-General will exercise the functions of the Governor-General.

4. The issue of special passports for the people of Chosen is abolished, and hereafter the Chosens will be treated on an equal footing as the Japanese in the matter.

At the same time as the promulgation of the Annexation Treaty, which took place to-day, an Imperial Rescript was issued granting amnesty to a number of prisoners, both of grave and minor offences, on account of extenuating circumstances, and also granting diminution or exemption of the taxes non-paid in past years and taxes to be collected during this. year.

CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GERMAN EMPIRE AND CHINA RESPECTING THE LEASE OF KIAO-CHAU.1

Signed at Peking, March 6, 1898.

[TRANSLATION]

The incidents connected with the mission in the Prefecture of Tsaochau-foo, in Shantung, being now closed, the Imperial Chinese Government consider it advisable to give a special proof of their grateful appreciation of the friendship shown to them by Germany. The Imperial German and the Imperial Chinese Governments, therefore, inspired by the equal and mutual wish to strengthen the bonds of friendship which unite the two countries, and to develop the economic and commercial relations between the subjects of the two States, have concluded the following separate convention: :

ARTICLE I.

His Majesty the Emperor of China, guided by the intention to strengthen the friendly relations between China and Germany, and at the same time to increase the military readiness of the Chinese Empire, engages, while reserving to himself all rights of sovereignty in a zone of 50 kilom. (100 Chinese li) surrounding the Bay of Kiao-chau at high-water, to permit the free passage of German troops within this zone at any time, as also to abstain from taking any measures, or issuing any ordinances therein, without the previous consent of the German Government, and especially to place no obstacle in the way of any regulation of the water-courses which may prove to be necessary. His Majesty the Emperor of China, at the same time, reserves to himself the right to station troops within that zone, in agreement with the German Government, and to take other military measures.

ARTICLE II.

With the intention of meeting the legitimate desire of His Majesty the German Emperor, that Germany, like other powers, should hold a place on the Chinese coast for the repair and equipment of her ships, for the storage of materials and provisions for the same, and for other arrangements connected therewith, His Majesty the Emperor of China.

1 Rockhill, Treaties and conventions with or concerning China and Korea, 1894-1904, p. 45.