Korea

The title of William N. Tilchin’s book review essay, “An outrage pure and simple,” neatly summarizes his view of James Bradley’s The Imperial Cruise. Tilchin offers not a single positive sentence about the work in the course of his essay, and he faults Bradley for the book’s many factual errors, its neglect of the cruise of the Great White Fleet, its repeated invocation of the term “Aryan” to describe leading Americans, and its use of Teddy to disparage Theodore Roosevelt. Tilchin points out Bradley’s distortion of Roosevelt’s diplomatic record, especially in regards to Japan, and he contends that Bradley’s work demonstrates a hatred for Americans and Christians.

Photographs of the Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and the Great White Fleet accompany the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Pamphlet describing the work done by Mission to Lepers in India and the East, a charity founded in 1874. The Mission to Lepers emphasizes the need for “the provision of food, shelter, medical relief, and Christian teaching” of those suffering from leprosy as “surely a part of the white man’s burden” at their asylums, hospitals, and homes in India, Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Japan, Korea, Sumatra, and the Philippine Islands. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06

This collection of cartoons addresses the conflict between Manchuria and Korea, the Panama Canal treaty, President Roosevelt’s choice of a vice presidential candidate, and his attempt to push the Cuban reciprocity treaty through Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-29

A map of China and Korea centered on the Liaodong Bay and Korea Bay depicting roads, rivers, and passes indicating the contending forces’ positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-27

Text of a treaty between Japan and Korea, giving Japan several advisory roles in Korean financial and international affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08

President Roosevelt copies two letters he sent to Kentaro Kaneko that he believes finally convinced Japan to give up on an indemnity and reach terms to end the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1905-09-01

President Roosevelt outlines for Ambassador Meyer his opinions regarding the Russian and Japanese people and their militaries, and comments on England’s similar interest regarding the “Oriental complication.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1905-02-06

Second Assistant Secretary of State Adee encloses a note from the Japanese Minister regarding the recently negotiated treaty between Japan and Korea. Adee has responded to the Minister.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-02

The Emperor of Korea writes to President Roosevelt requesting his advice on the matter of Japanese-Korean relations. English translation can be found in the related item.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-16

Translation of a letter sent by the Emperor of Korea discussing Japanese-Korean relations and requesting the President’s opinion and advice on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Walter Wellman offers suggestions for a Russo-Japanese peace agreement. Japan should pay Russia for Sakhalin, and Russia should pay Japan a lesser amount to establish railroads in Manchuria and Korea, as well as contributing to the international commission fund for the Chinese International Railway connecting to the transcontinental lines. A note indicates that Wellman sent his proposal to the plenipotentiaries for both countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-21

Map showing the positions of Russian and Japanese military forces, 1905.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-03

An article providing excerpts from Angus Hamilton’s new book, Corea.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02

The governments of the United Kingdom and Japan agree to maintain peace in East Asia and India, ensure independence of and equal trade opportunities in China, and maintain each party’s rights within that region. Great Britain recognizes Japan’s influence over Korea, and Japan recognizes Great Britain’s influence in India. The parties agree to discuss any encroachment on these terms and defend them if threatened. This agreement will remain in force for ten years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-12

An extension and renewal of the Treaty of Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed in 1902. This Treaty states that England will remain neutral with respect to the Russo-Japanese War, unless another nation attacks Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08

A Japanese soldier trains a group of soldiers of various nationalities and ethnicities, including Koreans.

Comments and Context

In 1867 radical reforms were untaken in Japanese society. The Meiji Dynasty was restored to power, and in a rapid-fire attempt to join the world (as Admiral Matthew Perry’s “opening” in 1852 had sought), the country underwent radical social, political, military, and even religious adjustments. For instance, the Shinto faith was recognized as prominent, and Buddhism was downplayed, but Confucianism and especially Christianity were respected. Democratic structures were instituted, and a conscious effort to adopt Western ways took place throughout society. A Japanese version of the Industrial Revolution commenced under Meiji.

A logical extension of these changes was the aggressive and expansionist aspect of Emperor Meiji’s rule (1867-1912) in areas of foreign relations and militarily policies. It can easily be argued that the Japanese decided not to be victims of colonialism and exploitation experienced by other Asian countries; but in any event, the concerns of security and trade encouraged aggressive colonial policies of its own — in Korea, China, and Indo-China. Modeling its military structure after the French, and sending military observers and students to many Western countries, the Japanese were on the march.

Mars, the Roman god of war, waits for the establishment of protocols and the Japanese occupation of “Korea” to be completed before the sands in an hourglass shift from “Peace” to “War.” “China” sits quietly on the left. Caption: Mars–Just a little more, and I’ll give that Peace Congress a jolt!

Comments and Context

Largely forgotten by much of the world, under the dust of events like the Russo-Japanese War, Japanese aggression in the 1930s, and World War II’s “Pacific Theater,” is the subject of Pughe’s cartoon. Japan’s unrelenting ambitions to dominate Korea reached an important moment in 1904; a treaty between the two royal empires then on the agenda (in Korea’s hopes) at the Peace Conference then convened at the Hague. The treaty was prosaic in its language, Japan respecting, and by assurances, protecting Korea. Yet it was aggression without arms, blackmail, and the establishment of a de facto protectorate by Tokyo.

Subsequent diplomatic agreements in the decade tightened Japan’s grip, until in 1910 Korea became a virtual colony, a situation that only ended when Japan surrendered to end World War II. Korea was “liberated” (from Japan) but split in two by diplomats under influence of the United States and the Soviet Union, later Communist China.

President Roosevelt apologizes to Secretary of State Hay that he cannot attend their morning talk due to the dedication of the Lutheran Memorial Church. He comments on the Senate’s handling of the arbitration treaties and declares the United States cannot intervene on Korea’s behalf against Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-28

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Carter H. Fitz-Hugh for sharing the editorial. He comments on arbitration treaties. Roosevelt believes the current relations between England and the United States make war unlikely. However, the current actions of other countries, such as Italy, in foreign regions show that treaties are worthless if they are not backed by force. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-31

Theodore Roosevelt comments on an editorial written by Kansas Governor Arthur Capper. He refutes Capper’s arguments against military readiness and recent American foreign policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-01-28