The Russo-Japanese Conflict: Its Causes and Issues

by Kan'ichi Asakawa

[547]. Tokushu Jōyaku, p. 722.

[548]. Ibid., pp. 761–764.

[549]. Tokushu Jōyaku, pp. 765–768. This contract includes certain interesting provisions, which the reader may compare with those of the Manchurian railways. There occur two exclusive measures, that none but Koreans and Japanese may hold shares of the railway capital (Article 15), and that no other foreigners shall reside within lands assigned for the depots (Article 5). The work should be begun within three years after the signature of the contract, and be completed within ten years hence (Article 10). After fifteen years of operation, the Korean Government might purchase the entire line, and, if unable to do so, the purchase would be postponed by periods of ten years (Article 12). As soon as the Korean finances should admit, the railway might be made a common work between the Koreans and Japanese (Article 13). The laborers and the timber employed in the construction should as far as possible be obtained in Korea (Article 6). The lands assigned for the line and its depots shall belong to the company only so long as it operates the road, and the Korean Government should furnish no other lands to the company (Articles 3 and 8). It should be added that the Japanese Government guaranteed a six per cent. interest for the capital of the company.

For further details of the Seul-Chemulpo and Fusan-Seul Railways, see p. 24, and notes, above.

[550]. For the contract, see Tokushu Jōyaku, pp. 770–772.

[551]. Tokushu Jōyaku, pp. 768–770; the Kokumin, September 7, 1901.

[552]. The Kokumin, July 4, 1902.

[553]. It is said that the Russian Representative obtained a promise from the Korean Government to grant to no other foreigners the right of either the construction or the mortgage of this railway.—The Kokumin, December 10, 1903. It now matters little whether this report was true or not, since the Korean Government abrogated on May 18, 1904, all the agreements it had concluded with the Russians.

[554]. The Kokumin, February 18, 1903; the Dōbun-kwai, No. 41, pp. 91–93.

[555]. The Kokumin, August 4, 1903.