The Japanese Chargé to the Secretary of State.
Washington, January 19, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you, under instructions, that on February 1, 1906, the Imperial Government will definitely abandon their legation and consulates which are now respectively administering the powers and functions of the residency-general and residencies in Korea and will formally open on that date the residency-general at Seoul and residencies at the places where the consulates and their branch offices are located; that the residency-general and residencies will administer their respective powers and functions according to the provisions of the agreements between Japan and Korea and the imperial ordinance No. 267,a of December 20, 1905, relating to the organization of residency-general and residencies, and that in consequence of this arrangement all local affairs appertaining to consular functions which have heretofore been transacted at Seoul with the Korean Government and those which have heretofore been transacted with Korean local authorities at the open ports will thereafter be transacted respectively with the residency-general and the residencies.
Accept, etc.,
- Attached to unofficial note of even date.↩