Earl Granville to Baron von Plessen.

M. le Chargé d’Affaires,
Foreign Office, August 23, 1883

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Count Bismarck’s letter of the 24th ultimo, with its inclosures, in which he was so good as to convey to me the desire of the Imperial Government to be made acquainted with the intentions of Her Majesty’s Government in regard to the amendments to be introduced in the Treaty negotiated by Admiral Willes between this country and Corea.
Her Majesty’s Government are very sensible of the readiness shown by that of the Emperor to arrive at a common understanding as to the further steps to be taken in order to obtain an uniform alteration of the British and German Treaties with that country.
Since the receipt of Count Bismarck’s letter above referred to a despatch has arrived from Her Majesty’s Minister in Japan, forwarding, for the consideration of Her Majesty’s Government, a draft of a new Treaty, accompanied by drafts of regulations for trade and of a Tariff to be attached to the Treaty.
In transmitting herewith, for your information, and that of your Government, copies of these documents, I have the honour to request that you will state to them that Her Majesty’s Government are inclined to send Sir H.S. Parkes to Corea, with authority to conclude a Treaty based on the lines of his draft Treaty, which, as you will observe, includes nearly all the points contained in the Memorandum forwarded with Count Bismarck’s letter of the 26th July.
Sir H.S. Parkes’ great experience and acquaintance with the relations of the Western Powers with the eastern countries of Asia entitle him to the entire confidence of Her Majesty’s Government in regard to the negotiations with which he may be intrusted in Corea, and it is not proposed, therefore, that he should be strictly bound as to the wording of the Treaty.
Indeed, should he not find it practicable to conclude a complete and satisfactory Treaty, Her Majesty’s Government are of opinion that his action for the present should be limited to obtaining from the Corean Government a declaration of most-favoured-nation treatment, and watching events with a view to concluding a more comprehensive Treaty when a favourable occasion presents itself.
But before proceeding further in the matter, they would be glad to learn whether the German Government concur in the course proposed, and whether they also would be prepared to send an Agent to Corea, with powers to negotiate a similar Treaty.
As it will be necessary, in order to enable Sir H.S. Parkes, who has been appointed Her Majesty’s Minister in China, to reach Peking before the navigation of the river is closed above Tien-tsin, that his instructions and full powers should be sent from London early in September, I shall feel greatly obliged if you will move your Government to favour me with their views at their earliest convenience.

I am, &c.
(Signed)　　GRANVILLE