Mr. Kennedy to Earl Granville.―(Received August 2)

(No. 61 Very confidential)
Yedo. June 8, 1881

My Lord,

WITH reference to my despatches marked Very Confidential, No. 179 of the 21st December, and No. 131 of the 27th July last, upon the subject of Corea, I have the honour to inclose copy of a Memorandum prepared by Mr. Satow, giving the latest account of the state of parties in Corea, together with a copy in translation from the Chinese by Mr. Satow of a document addressed to the late Corean Envoy to Japan by the Secretary of the Chinese Legation in Tokio.
The letter or private Memorandum of the Chinese Secretary, of which the authenticity is undoubted, develops the policy which the writer considers to be most advantageous for adoption by Corea in order to secure her national existence against the aggressive designs commonly attributed to Russia. It counsels Corea to draw closer the existing ties which unite her to China and Japan, and to enter into Treaties of amity with Europe and America. By this means, it is suggested, she would enter the comity of nations, and become entitled to invoke the protection of international law in the case of any attempt upon her independence. The United States are extolled as being especially disposed to treat Asiatic nations in a spirit of fairness, and Corea is advised, by concluding a favourable Treaty with America in the first place, to guard against having to make excessive concessions to England, France, and Germany. The various objections which a Corean statesman might make to the course proposed are combatted in turn with considerable ingenuity.
I may observe that the tone of the Memorandum throughout indicates that the writer considers Corea to be practically an independent State in her external relations as well as regards her internal affairs, and the tie which binds her to China to be merely one of respect and gratitude for favours received in past times.
The secret Agent of the King alluded to in Mr. Satow’s annexed Memorandum is the same of whose proceedings I reported to your Lordship in my two above mentioned despatches. On his return to Seoul, this Agent was appointed adviser to the newly-constituted Department of Foreign Affairs, and exercised much influence over the King. His sudden elevation, however, excited the jealousy of the reactionary party, by whom his life was threatened during a recent agitation, now reported to have subsided. He is now in concealment, awaiting the triumph of liberal ideas, which, so far as an opinion can be formed, will not long be delayed.
The arrival in Japan of the Corean Mission, alluded to in the concluding paragraph of Mr. Satow’s Memorandum, confirms the reports already received of the recent growth in that country of an inclination to make acquaintance with the arts and sciences of Europe. Although not ostensibly possessing any public character, there is every reason to suppose that this Mission now in Tokio, consisting of eleven principal officers, representing both the Conservative and Liberal parties, and a following of fifty minor functionaries and servants, is provided with secret credentials from the Government of Corea, which might be produced if necessary.
The members of the Mission, since their arrival about a fortnight ago in Tokio, have been chiefly occupied in visiting the various Government establishments, such as administrative departments, arsenals, factories, and schools. I may add, that individually they manifest a friendly and courteous demeanour whenever they come in contact with Europeans.
In concluding this Report, I beg to state that since the conclusion of peace between Russia and China, and the dispersion of the Russian fleet, the political advantage of opening communications with Corea has greatly diminished, if not disappeared.
Corea, it is believed, has profited much by the importance given to her, and by the interest she has awakened amongst European nations during the past twelve months, and evidence is not wanting that Corea will before long herself offer to enter into friendly relations with foreign Powers, commencing probably with the United States, which country, as your Lordship is aware, made an unsuccessful attempt to communicate with the Corean Government last year, and has recently appointed to Commodore Shufeldt, late Commander of the United States’ ship “Ticonderoga,” to be Naval Attaché at Peking.
My German colleague recently informed me that he had received a despatch from his Government acknowledging his reports on Corea, but stating that in the opinion of the German Government the time for action towards Corea had not yet arrived.

I have, &c.
(Signed) J.G. Kennedy