Reporting Signature of Treaty between Great Britain and Corea.

(ADM 125/142/5)
“Vigilant” at Nagasaki
9th June, 1882

Sir,

I have the honour to report, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the steps which I have taken to carry out the orders conveyed to me by telegraph on the 15th April, authorizing me to negotiate with the Corean authorities to secure advantages by Treaty.
2. As I have already reported, I at once visited Tientsin to confer with Her Majesty’s Minister at Pekin, and succeeded after much delay, consequent on the Viceroy of Chibli, the Grand Secretary, Li Hung Chang, being retired in mourning, in obtaining from the latter a copy of the American Treaty and a letter of introduction to the Corean Authorities.
3. I had ascertained that there was no intention on the part of the American Admiral to make any demonstration of force during Commodore Shufeldt’s negotiations, and was assured by Sir Thomas Wade, who understands the native character that there would be more prospect of marking terms with the Coreans were I to follow his example. I therefore determined to proceed alone in the “Vigilant” to the Port of Jin Chuen, which lies in the Salee River, within easy reach of the capital of Corea.
4. I arrived on the 27th May, and found that Commodore Shufeldt had already negotiated a Treaty and sailed in the “Sawtara” for Shanghai.
There were two Chinese men-of-war, and one Japanese, at the anchorage. One of the Chinese vessels bore the flag of Admiral Ting, and had also on board a Chinese Mandarin named Ma Taotai, who had been sent by Li Hung Chang to assist the American Commodore’s negotiations. In fact, I am told on good authority that the American Treaty with the Coreans had been prepared under the auspices of Li Hung Chang, and that a Corean Envoy at Tientsin had so far approved it as to leave nothing but the signature to be obtained in Corea.
The Japanese man-of-war was in attendance on the Japanese Minister Resident at Seoul, who is in vain endeavouring to negotiate a Treaty on better terms than exist at present between the two countries. He may succeed, in which case the benefits will accrue to England.
5. Ma Taotai was absent at the capital, Seoul on the day of my arrival at Jin Chuen, but he returned on the following day and, though he had intended to sail at once for China, he considerately consented to remain at the anchorage and introduce me to the Corean Officials.
6. I informed the Corean Authorities at Seoul of the object of my mission, and His Majesty the King at once graciously sent two Members of His Council, the one being his own brother-in-law, as Plenipotentiaries to meet me.
7. Our first meeting took place on board Her Majesty’s Ship “Vigilant” on the 30th May, when the Plenipotentiaries informed me that they had received authority from the King to conclude with me a Treaty similar to that made with Commodore Shufeldt. We discussed its various clauses, and, though I found their Excellencies very conciliatory, they were evidently determined to abide by their instructions to accept no other conditions.
They were willing, however, to admit a protocol naming the open ports, giving immediate permission for Her Majesty’s ships to pay friendly visits to any port in Corea, with freedom to survey the coast line forthwith.
8. I learnt at Tientsin that the first article of the American Treaty admitted the suzerainty of China over the Corea, but autonomy in her domestic and foreign relations.
The questions was not, however, raised in our discussion, but after the signing of the Treaty on the 6th instant the Plenipotentiaries presented me with a letter addressed to Her Majesty the Queen by the King of Chosen (Corea) acknowledging the suzerainty of China. His Majesty, I was told, had forwarded a similar letter to the President of the United States, and I saw no harm in receiving the document for transmission to Her Majesty.
I observe that in the Treaty between Corea and Japan, dated 26th February, 1876, Corea is spoken of as an independent State.
9. It is needless for me here to discuss at length the different articles of the Treaty now made. Each carries on its face its own interpretation; but there are one or two points which call for remark.
10. As regards the Treaty Ports, which are Yen San (or Port Lazareff), Fusan and Jin Chuen, I fear that the latter will not be likely to become a port of trade for large vessels, from the shallowness of the water at low tide, the great rise and fall (about 30 feet) and extensive mud banks: but it is of importance as being the nearest approach to the capital, 25 miles by land and 60 miles by a river, which is navigable by boats only, for 12 miles below the capital. I have reason to believe that the southern part of the Corea is more fertile, and I can apprehend no difficulty in getting a suitable Treaty Port opened there, should one be found to exist, after the survey which I have at once put in operation.
11. I hope that I have only anticipated the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government in accepting the clause which forbids the importation of opium into Corea. It is not grown in the country, and the use of the drug is a vice which the Coreans have not yet learnt.
12. As Seoul, the capital, is reported to have a very large population, it seemed but reasonable to consent to the prohibition of [the export of] rice and breadstuffs at Jin Chuen; for the country in the neighbourhood, though apparently fertile, seemed only partly cultivated, and a bad impression might be caused if the first intercourse with foreigners should lead to want or scarcity.
13. No importance need to be attached to the clause forbidding the export of “red ginseng.” As their lordships are no doubt aware, it is the root of a species of Panax (belonging to the ivy tribe of plants) which is believed by the Coreans and Chinese to possess great medicinal virtues, but which is of no particular use to any other people.
14. The Americans gave the Coreans a high tariff in their Treaty.
After ineffectually combating the point, I was content to accept the same terms, remembering that the tariffs fixed are the maxima, and little doubting that after some friendly intercourse and the establishment of diplomatic relations, a conciliatory minister at Seoul will be able to arrange matters by a satisfactory agreement; the most favoured nation clause will also give us the benefit of any improved succeeding Treaty or Agreement with any other Power.
15. Having arranged all preliminaries with the Envoys, I was invited to land at Jin Chuen to conclude the Treaty. I accordingly, on the 6th June, met the Plenipotentiaries in a tent on a hill-side some distance from the beach. I was accompanied by my staff and by the officers of ships present, H.M. ships “Flying Fish” and “Shelrake” having arrived during negotiations.
The tent was surrounded by a cordon of good-looking, well-built soldiers, unarmed, and every effort seemed to have been made by this simple people to give befitting dignity to the ceremony. The Plenipotentiaries received me with much courtesy, and, after a short discussion, the Treaty was signed by myself on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, and by the two Plenipotentiaries on behalf of the King of Corea.
I then expressed to their Excellencies that I hoped that this Treaty would be the commencement of a long and cordial friendship between the two countries, a desire which they heartily reciprocated on the part of their King.
16. It may here be well to advert briefly to the condition of public feeling in the Corea.
The Government is vested in the King as an absolute despotic monarch. He calls to his assistance a board of Councillors. At the present moment there are two parties in the State, of almost equal strength; the one is progressist, headed by the King, and ready and anxious to admit foreign intercourse; the other, entirely opposed to any such policy.
The King appears determined to open Corea to strangers, in spite of the opposite party. He has now done so by these Treaties with America and England, which will probably be followed by similar conventions with other Powers, all of which will give general moral strength to the Kings’ Government, and materially assist friendly intercourse with the people.
17. I fear it may be considered that the Treaty now made is somewhat bald in its provisions, and that better terms would have been more satisfactory. I have felt this, but have at the same time borne in mind that the first desideratum was to gain a footing in the country; and, unable by any means to obtain wider concessions than the United States, except those which are granted by the Protocol, I deemed it wise to accept them, and at the same time obtain the confidence and secure the friendship of a People who, since these seas have been navigated by Europeans, have never hitherto willingly received them into their country.
18. I do not, however, consider that in the immediate future any great commercial advantages will arise—at least, not until the country is opened up, and its resources discovered and developed.
But its being opened to foreigners will have considerable political significance, and I have no doubt that the King (urged by the Chinese) has been originally induced to take his present line of action for this reason—fearing the absorbing power of his northern neighbour.
19. The Coreans, whom I have seen in my various excursions on shore, live in a very primitive fashion. They are a simple, modest folk, industrious only to an extent which will cover the necessities of life.
Their villages are composed of small thatched cabins, each with its own inclosure, and they appear to have the usual Eastern views as to the seclusion of their women. We never succeeded in penetrating into their hamlets, though I believe they prevented us more from the memory of severe punishments which their laws imposed for harbouring strangers, than for any individual dislike to our society. This will wear off by degrees. Before we left the anchorage the vessels were often thronged with native visitors, and they were beginning to treat our officers who landed with great cordiality. They would not receive money.
20. Their mode of living is what might be expected of any primitive people under a patriarchal dynasty of three thousand years’ duration, educated through a long history of naught but their own seclusion, cultivating a few needful arts, such as weaving &c., satisfied with their own productions, and content to live at the expense of the least exertion possible.
I doubt whether their own energy will ever put them in the possession of much purchasing power; but if it be true that Corea possesses valuable metals and minerals, the coming generation may profit from resources which only European industry is likely to develop.
21. With this letter I forward the Treaty in Chinese and in English, and retain another original of each until instructions are received as to ratification. The Protocol to Treaty, which I enclosed in my letter to the Plenipotentiaries, was admitted by them, and replied to by letter, of which I retain the original in Chinese, and forward a copy.
I also have the honour to forward the letter from the King of Corea to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, which I undertook to send. A translation is appended.
The title of the King of Corea is King of Chosen, and the country of Corea is called Chosen by the people.
I have forthwith diverted the “Flying Fish” to commence surveying operations of the approach to the Capital, and of the west and south coasts, and I hope this summer to visit Fusan and Yensan, with the Squadron of Evolution.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed)　　GEORGE O. WILLES,
Vice-Admiral Commander-in-Chief.

P.S. I have this day forwarded to their Lordships a telegram in cypher (No. 4) informing them of the signing of the Treaty, and giving the heads of the several Articles.

Inclosure

To their Excellencies the Representatives of His Majesty the King of Chosen.

It being considered desirable that an understanding should be come to on certain points with reference to the Draft Treaty, the undersigned proposes that a Protocol of the nature of the enclosed document should be attached to the Treaty.

(Signed)　　GEORGE O. WILLES
Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief,
Representative of Her Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.
June 3rd, 1882

Protocol of Supplementary Articles to Treaty between England and Chosen.

I. It is understood that the Ports opened to British trade by the foregoing Treaty (though not designated by name) are the three at present open to Japan, namely, the Portof{Port of} Yensan (Port Lazareff), the Port of Fuzan, and the Port of Jin Chuen.

II. It being recognized by international law that men-of-war of any nation can freely enter the ports of any other friendly power, it is hereby agreed that from and after the signing of the Treaty between Great Britain and Chosen, British ships of war may visit ports within the dominions of the King of Chosen, and shall receive every facility for the purchase of provisions, for procuring water, fuel, and, if necessary, for repairs.

III. The coasts of Chosen, being hitherto imperfectly surveyed, are dangerous to vessels approaching them, and in order to prepare charts showing the position of islands, rocks, and reefs, as well as the depth of water, vessels of the British Government may survey the said coasts.

(Translation)

The Plenipotentiaries for the negotiation of the Treaty of Great Chosen, that is to say, Chief Plenipo. Chao, and Assist. Plenipo. Kim, beg to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency’s communication of the 20thof{20th of} this month, enclosing a supplementary Protocol, in three articles, as to matters not expressly mentioned in the Treaty.

As regards the several items thereof, whatever has not been expressly stipulated must, of course, be arranged in accordance with international law.
As regards the 2nd and 3rdArticles{3rd Articles}, it will be for the Chosen Government to issue instructions to the local authorities on the seaboard, that in case of men-of-war of your nation entering our ports, they(the authorities) are to attend carefully to their wants. But inasmuch as the people of Chosenare, as yet, unversed in intercourse with people of other nationalities, our Government are apprehensive that our people may easily take alarm. We must, therefore, beg your Excellency to give orders that, for the future, whenever a ship of war enters our ports, the officers and men are to be especially fair in their dealing; in which case we may anticipate that mutual forbearance will prevail, and no unforeseen outbreak occur.
For convenience sake we mention this subject to your Excellency beforehand, in replying to your dispatch, and we trust you will make arrangements in accordance with the purport hereof.
The above reply to his Excellency Wei, Plenipotentiary of Great Britain for negotiation of the Treaty.
21st day of 4th month of Kwang Sii, Chinese Calendar, corresponding to 491st year of the era of Great Chosen
(L.S.)

Inclosure

Translation of a letter from His Majesty the King of Chosen to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England.

(Translation)

The King of Great Chosen makes a communication.
He begs to say as regards Chosen that it is simply a dependency of China, but that its internal administration and its external intercourse are entirely and in all respects within his discretion and control as an independent king. In now making a Treaty with each other, the States of Great Chosen and Great England shall conduct their intercourse in every respect on the footing of equality. The King of Great Chosen expresses his willingness that all the stipulations of the proposed Treaty shall be arranged in strict accordance with the international usage of independent States. On the other hand, Great Chosen, being a dependency of China, shall fully discharge in all particulars the duties of that relation, but this shall in no wise affect or concern Great England. Moreover, before deputies are appointed to negotiate the Treaty has deemed it incumbent to set forth clearly, as above, his position, and he begs the Queen of Great England that the matter may be arranged on the understanding herein above set forth.
In testimony whereof he makes the foregoing communication.
The Queen of Great England.
Dated the 13th day of the 4th month of the 8th year of the Chinese (year term) Kwang Sii, corresponding to the 491st year of the era of Great Chosen, equivalent to the 30th day of May, 1882.
The above is a true copy of a translation made from a copy of the original letter by her Majesty’s Consul at Nagasaki on the 9th June, 1882.
I have ascertained that this letter is written in original in all due form and style.

GEORGE O. WILLES
Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.