Memorandum.1

(Dated the 12th July, 1909, signed by Viscount Sone, resident general in Korea, and Li Kwan Yo, Korean minister president.)

The Governments of Japan and Korea with a view to improve the administration of justice and prison in Korea, thereby assuring protection for persons and property of Korean subjects, as well as the subjects and citizens of foreign powers in Korea, and also to consolidate the basis of the Korean finance, have agreed upon the following stipulations:

Article 1.

Until the system of justice and prison in Korea shall have been recognized as complete, the Government of Korea delegates to the Government of Japan the administration of justice and prison.

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Article 2.

The Government of Japan shall appoint the officers of the Japanese courts and prison in Korea from among Japanese and Korean subjects having the necessary qualifications for the posts.

Article 3.

Japanese courts in Korea shall apply Korean laws to Korean subjects except in cases specifically provided for in agreements or in laws and ordinances.

Article 4.

Korean local authorities and public functionaries shall according to their respective functions submit to control and direction of Japanese competent authorities in Korea and render assistance to those authorities in respect of administration of justice and prison.

Article 5.

The Government of Japan shall bear all expense connected with administration of justice and prison in Korea.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed and sealed and exchanged the present memorandum drawn up in duplicate both in Japanese and Korean languages.

  1. Left at the department by the Japanese Ambassador on July 17, 1909.