Chargé Wilson to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Tokyo, March 28,
1906.
No. 419.]Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge and
confirm your instructions received on the 9th instant in a cipher
telegram reading as follows:a
At an interview on the 9th instant I laid the above question before the
minister for foreign affairs, who desired me to put it in writing. I
accordingly addressed to his excellency on the same day a note whereof I
have the honor to transmit a copy herewith. The Marquis Saionji replied,
as shown by the inclosed copy of his note of the 23d instant, that the
Japanese Government was averse to the addition of “agent” to the style
of the consul-general of the United States at Seoul. As the ground for
this objection his excellency states that the resident-general at Seoul
will only deal with such matters touching foreign representatives in
Korea as do not exceed the scope of ordinary consular functions, all
diplomatic affairs being left for negotiation at Tokyo.
In communicating the response of the Japanese Government I had the honor
on the 24th instant to dispatch to you a cipher telegram reading as
follows:a
The inclosed statement of the minister for foreign affairs makes the
division of foreign business with Korea between the foreign office in
Tokyo and the residency-general in Seoul considerably clearer than did
the articles of organization of the residency-general and residencies in
Korea, a translation of which accompanied the legation’s No. 363, of
January 2.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Chargé Wilson
to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
American Legation,
Tokyo, March 9,
1906.
Monsieur le Ministre: Acting under
telegraphic instructions from the Secretary of State, I have the
honor to inquire whether the Imperial Japanese Government would
acquiesce in the American representative at Seoul’s being styled
“agent” and “consul-general,” thus following a usual precedent in
the case of protected countries, and at the same time facilitating
official business relations with the resident-general.
I avail myself, etc.
[Page 1035]
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé Wilson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo, March 23, 1906.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your note No. 220, dated the 9th instant, asking whether the
Imperial Government would acquiesce in the American representative
at Seoul being styled agent and consul-general.
I have to say in reply that in view of the fact that all the
diplomatic affairs concerning Korea are, according to the agreement
between Japan and Korea, to be transacted through this department,
and those matters relating to foreign countries, of which the
resident-general at Seoul takes charge, are limited to such local
affairs of Korea as would come within the scope of the functions
exercised by the foreign consuls, it is believed that no
inconvenience would be experienced by the United States official at
Seoul in the way of maintaining official relations with the
resident-general in the capacity of consul-general, and consequently
the Imperial Government regret that they are unable to see their way
to consent to the said official’s adopting the special designation
of agent besides that of consul-general.
Accept, etc.,
