[Inclosure.]
agreement.
The Imperial Governments of Japan and Korea, finding it expedient
from the standpoint of the administration and finances of Korea, to
rearrange the system of communications in that country, and, by
amalgamating it with that of Japan, to unite the two systems into
one common to the two countries, and having seen the necessity, with
that object in view, of transferring the post, telegraph, and
telephone services of Korea to the control of the Japanese
Government, Hayashi Gonsuke, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary of Japan and I-hayeng, minister of state for foreign
affairs of Korea, each invested with proper authority, have agreed
upon and concluded the following articles:
Article I.
The Imperial Government of Korea shall transfer and assign the
control and administration of the post, telegraph, and telephone
services in Korea (except the telephone service exclusively
pertaining to the department of the imperial household) to the
Imperial Japanese Government.
Article II.
The land, buildings, furnitures, instruments, machines, and all other
appliances connected with the system of communications already
established by the Imperial Government of Korea shall, by virtue of
the present agreement, be transferred to the control of the Imperial
Japanese Government.
The authorities of the two countries acting together shall make an
inventory of the land, buildings, and all other requisites mentioned
in the preceding paragraph, which shall serve as evidence in the
future.
Article III.
When it is deemed necessary by the Japanese Government to extend the
communication system in Korea, they may appropriate land and
buildings belonging to the state or to private persons, the former
without compensation and the latter with proper indemnification.
Article IV.
In respect of the control of the communication service and the
custody of the properties in connection therewith, the Japanese
Government assume, on their own account, the responsibility of good
administration.
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The expenses required for the extension of the communication services
shall also be borne by the Imperial Government of Japan.
The Imperial Government of Japan shall officially notify the Imperial
Korean Government of the financial condition of the system of
communications under their control.
Article V.
All appliances and materials which are deemed necessary by the
Imperial Government of Japan for the control or extension of the
system of communication shall be exempt from all duties and
imposts.
Article VI.
The Imperial Government of Korea shall be at liberty to maintain the
present board of communication, so far as such retention does not
interfere with the control and extension of the services by the
Japanese Government.
The Japanese Government in controlling and extending the services
shall engage as many Korean officials and employees as possible.
Article VII.
In respect of the arrangements formerly entered into by the Korean
Government with the governments of foreign powers concerning the
post, telegraph, and telephone services the Japanese Government
shall, in behalf of Korea, exercise the rights and perform the
obligations pertaining thereto.
Should there arise in the future any necessity for concluding any new
convention between the Government of Korea and the governments of
foreign powers concerning the communication services, the Japanese
Government shall assume the responsibility of concluding such
convention in behalf of the Korean Government.
Article VIII.
The various conventions and agreements respecting the communication
services hitherto existing between the Governments of Japan and
Korea are naturally abolished or modified by the present
agreement.
Article IX.
When in future, as the result of the general development of the
communication system in Korea, there is some adequate profit over
and above expenditures defrayed by the Japanese Government for the
control and maintenance of the old services and for their extensions
and improvements, the Japanese Government shall deliver to the
Korean Government a suitable percentage of such profit.
Article X.
When in the future an ample surplus exists in the finance of the
Korean Government, the control of their communication services may
be returned, as the result of the consultation of the two
governments, to the Government of Korea.
