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근대한국외교문서

金玉均과 면담 보고

제2차 조약 체결 과정
  • 발신자
    H.S. Parkes
  • 수신자
    G.L.G. Granville
  • 발송일
    1883년 7월 16일(음)(1883년 7월 16일)
  • 수신일
    1883년 8월 25일(음)(1883년 8월 25일)
  • 출전
    FO 405/33; BDFA pp. 188-9; AADM pp. 319-20.
Sir H.S. Parkes to Earl Granville.-(Received August 25)

(No. 114 Confidential)
Tôkiô, July 16. 1883

My Lord,

I HAVE the honour to report that Mr. Kim Ok Kiun, whose name has been frequently mentioned in my despatches to your Lordship relative to Corea, and in Mr. Aston’s Reports, has again visited Japan, and called on me on the 3rd instant.
In the conversation which ensued he commenced by referring to a point on which he had on previous occasions laid great stress, namely, the anxiety of the Corean Government to establish Treaty relations with Great Britain as soon as possible. He referred to the fact that the 31st December was the limit assigned to the extension of the period for the ratification of the Treaty concluded by Admiral Willes, and stated that his Government looked forward with interest to the appointment, before the expiration of that period, of a Minister Plenipotentiary empowered by Her Majesty’s Government to conclude with that of Corea the formalities of ratification, or any further negotiation that might be found necessary.
In answer to his inquiry as to the intentions of Her Majesty’s Government, I observed that, in the absence of definite instructions on this point, I could only tell him that I knew that they were indisposed to ratify Admiral Willes’ Treaty as it stands, as it contained several objectionable clauses; and the high Tariff on that Treaty would prevent the development of trade between the two countries. I felt confident, however, that in regard to any steps they might see fit to take, my Government would be guided by the consideration of what was expedient in the interests both of Corea and Great Britain, and though they would naturally decline to accept a commercial Treaty containing conditions which would be prejudicial to those interests, they would be willing to negotiate with Corea similar Treaties to those they had concluded with China and Japan, and which, as Mr. Kim himself must be aware from his own observation, had been productive of very great benefit to both those nations. If Corea earnestly desired Treaty relations with Great Britain, she should be willing to offer the latter sufficient inducements to enter into such relations. Such a Treaty as that which was concluded last year did not contain sufficient inducements: it would entail considerable cost on Her Majesty’s Government, without any corresponding advantage.
Mr. Kim earnestly assured me that the Corean Government were quite alive to the fact that, when Admiral Willes’ Treaty was negotiated last year, they were inexperienced in Treaty matters, and, as they could now perceive that some modifications of that Treaty might be desirable, they were ready to enter into negotiations having this object. His Government, he said, were not disposed to attach great importance to the Tariff provisions of the Treaty, but were very sensible of the necessity, in Corea’s interests, of the establishment of friendly relations with Great Britain at as early a date as possible. He proceeded to state that, in his opinion, the policy adopted by China towards Corea was entirely actuated by motives of self-interest, and that although she had ostentatiously affected regard for the welfare of Corea, she had practically done nothing to facilitate the development of the wishes of the Corean Government in regard to intercourse with foreign countries. In fact, thus far, China, instead of furthering the interests of Corea, had exerted her influence to retard Corean progress. A Treaty of Friendship with Great Britain, and the commercial relations between the two countries which would follow on that Treaty, would do more than anything else to strengthen Corea’s hands in resisting the pressure brought to bear upon her by China, and in enabling her to maintain her independence, which, in the absence of Treaties with foreign Powers, could not, he believed, be long preserved.
Mr. Kim was then so good as to add that the experience of Eastern affairs which he conceived I had obtained after many years’ residence in China and Japan, and the interest I had taken in Corean matters, caused his Government to indulge in the hope that I might be selected to conduct the negotiations to which he had referred. He expressed his confidence that, in the event of my being instructed to proceed to Corea in the capacity he had indicated, I should find the Corean Government quite disposed to meet the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government, and to consider favourably any fresh proposals which were not injurious to the interests of Corea. He added, that his Government might deem it advisable to invite the American Minister to Corea to participate in these negotiations.
In reply, I reminded Mr. Kim that I should shortly leave this country for Peking, and that while appreciating the friendly wish he had been good enough to express, he must understand that the appointment of a Plenipotentiary to proceed to Corea was a matter which Her Majesty’s Government alone could decide. With regard to his assurance of a cordial and conciliatory attitude on the part of the Corean Government, I felt obliged to point out to him that Mr. Aston’s visit to Corea had furnished the Foreign Minister in that country with a fitting opportunity of communicating on the spot to a confidential Agent of my Government the views of that of Corea. That opportunity had not been taken full advantage of, and I could have wished, in the interests of Corea herself, that the Corean Ministers should have shown the same frankness in speaking to Mr. Aston as Mr. Kim had now observed towards myself.
Mr. Kim explained that, had Mr. Aston visited Corea in the character of a Plenipotentiary, this reticence would have been avoided, but he added that the Corean Government had made no attempt to conceal from Mr. Aston their views in general on the subjects which were discussed during that gentleman's stay in Corea.
He went on to remark that the relations between China and Corea would assuredly lead, at no distant date, to a pronounced disagreement of opinion between the Governments of the two countries. Whenever this rupture occurred, Corea would of course be precluded by her weakness from opposing any armed resistance to China’s demands, but he trusted that by the peaceful co-operation of foreign Treaty Powers she might be enabled to establish her rights as an independent state.
He then inquired whether it was the case that England intended to negotiate modifications of the Treaty with Corea through China. To this I replied that I did not think this probable, as it was understood that Corea possessed herself the Treaty-making power; and in answer to a further inquiry of Mr. Kim as to the views entertained generally by foreign Powers on the question of Corean independence, I stated that these views must depend very much on the attitude and action adopted by Corea herself.
In reporting this conversation to your Lordship, I think I should add my opinion that it would not be prudent to accept the assurances of Mr. Kim Ok Kiun as a complete reflection of those of the Corean Government. He may honestly express his own convictions as to the desirability of Treaty relations, but judging from the reserve he observed before Mr. Aston when in Corea, it is doubtful how far those convictions, and the intelligence he has gained, are yet shared by the ruling class in that country. I gather, however, from his remarks, that the Corean Government are determined to await fresh proposals from Her Majesty’s Government, and that they will only consider these when delivered by a Plenipotentiary who would be fully empowered to negotiate a definite arangement.

I have, &c.
(Signed) HARRY S. PARKES

색인어
이름
H.S. Parkes, Granville, Kim Ok Kiun, Willes, Aston, Aston, Aston, Kim Ok Kiun, Aston, HARRY S. PARKES
지명
Tôkiô
사건
Admiral Willes’ Treaty
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金玉均과 면담 보고 자료번호 : gk.d_0007_1610