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A report written by German foreign minister Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter in 1910 about Japan's annexation of Korea. The writing on the dotted line is the signature of Kaiser Wilhelm „±. /Courtesy of Jung Sang-su
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A newly discovered German diplomatic document which called Japan's annexation of Korea wrongful on Aug. 27, 1910, two days before imperial Japan deprived the Korean Empire of its sovereignty undermines persistent Japanese claim that all Western powers recognized the annexation.
Jung Sang-su (44), a professor at Myongji University, on Monday said he unearthed the document in the process of reading Korea-related files in archives of the German Foreign Ministry, copies of which are kept by the National Institute of Korean History. This document is a report sent by then new German foreign minister Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter (1852-1912) to chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg. Kaiser Wilhelm „± (1888-1918) read and signed the document.
The document stresses the need to avoid any tough political measure against Japan's annexation of Korea but adds, ”°"In conformity with the Korea-German Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed in 1883, we must maintain consular jurisdiction and diplomatic rights in Korea." The ministry ”°conducted negotiations with other major powers to maintain consular jurisdiction and diplomatic rights”± in Korea given problems in previous instances such as the U.S. annexation of Texas and Hawaii but received ”°lukewarm responses,”± Kiderlen-Waechetr wrote.
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Emperor Gojong (left) and German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm „±
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Jung said Germany's determination to maintain separate consular jurisdiction suggests it did not approve of Japan's annexation of Korea but was minded to keep recognizing the Korean Empire.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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