Politics23 February 1904
Japan–Korea Protocol of 1904
Having started the war with Russia and occupied Seoul, Japan forced a protocol on Korea that let it take over any Korean land it needed for the war.
Dunn, Robert Lee, photographer · Public domain · Source
The protocol claimed that Japan guaranteed Korea’s "independence and territorial integrity", but allowed Japan to occupy "places necessary for strategic purposes" at any time and barred Korea from making contrary agreements with other powers without Japan’s consent. Korea’s declaration of neutrality was ignored.
Japan used it to seize land for bases and railways (the Seoul–Busan and Seoul–Sinuiju lines). It also demanded the right to develop waste land, but backed down before a protest campaign led by the Boanhoe society.
