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The Korean Diplomatic Adviser Durham W. Stevens' Dual Contract and its Meaning

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2010, (98), pp.313-345
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Han, Cheol-Ho 1

1동국대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

I discovered the document in the Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan which Durham W. Stevens concluded a secret agreement with Japanese government as the Japan's foreign adviser. The aim of this thesis is to analysis Stevens' secret agreement, to renew the progress of engaging and conditions of the contract which Stevens made with Korean government as the diplomatic adviser to Korean Department of Foreign Affairs and to re-examine the meaning. Because Komura Jutaro, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded a secret agreement with Stevens on November 11, 1904, Stevens didn't resigned employee of Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned to the Japanese Legation in Washington D. C.. Stevens and Komura renewed the contract which expired on March 30, 1905 and Stevens maintained his position until March 31, 1910. Drafts that Japanese government made on April 8, 1905 and July, 1906 prove this clearly. Since draft in 1905 wasn't formally engaged, agreement should be made again. According to this dual contract, he earned 1700 yen a month that 800 yen from Korean government, 200 yen additional payment from Japanese government and 700 from Japanese government as a Japanese agent. And he was guaranteed his position until 1910. Like this, Japanese government treated him specially and induced his loyalty for Japan. Komura secured his position in Japan and notified him that he will notice, discuss and approve with Japanese Minister to Korea Hayashi Gonsuke for Korean diplomatic problem when he became a diplomatic adviser. Komura stressed that Japanese government trust that Stevens will act faithfully. Stevens was just a puppet that acted for Japanese interests. Komura also ordered Hayashi that this agreement should be kept secret. It means that Japanese government also recognized that this secret agreement was illegal and immoral. So Japanese government devoted to cover the agreement itself. Stevens made a contact with Korean government on December 27, 1904. He became the diplomatic adviser to Korean Department of Foreign Affairs officially but actually was Japan's foreign adviser to work for the interests of the Japan. He supervised and controled the diplomacy of Korea and as a result Japanese Minister to Korea and Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertook Korea's diplomacy informally and actually.

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