『大東亜戦争への道』（展転社）

中村　粲

その３　第一章　近代日韓関係の始まり

 

　日本が明治維新によって開国・近代化を進めるうえで、隣国の中国（清）・朝鮮との国交を正常化することが、必須の課題でした。というのは、両国とはそれまで正式の外交関係が結ばれていなかったからです。

　清国との交渉は最初は拒絶されましたが、清国の開明派の努力もあり、明治４年には日清修好条規１８条が調印されました。この条約で重要なことは、日清相互に治外法権と領事裁判権を承認し合う平等条約となっていることです。

　さて、では朝鮮との国交はどうだったでしょうか。維新政府は明治元年に各国政府に王政復古の旨を通告しましたが、朝鮮は我が国の修好の提議の受理を拒否したのです。その理由は書簡に「皇室」「勅」「朝廷」などの文字が使われているというのです。中国のみが属国に対して使う文字だというのです。中国に対する属国意識、事大主義丸出しの言い分ですが、こんなことを理由に、日本からの修好要求を拒否したことから、近代日本と朝鮮の関係が始まったわけです。

　しかも、日本側からはその文字にはこだわらない書簡を出しても、極めて無礼な対応が続くので、日本では「征韓論」が持ち上がってきます。西郷隆盛は、「征韓論」というより、自分が全権代表として、誠意を尽くした対応、説得しようと提議したのですが、「樺太に露国との紛争頻発する現状では遣韓使節をはするのは時期尚早」との理由で受け入れらませんでした。

　清との間ですら、明治４年に修好条約が結ばれているのに、朝鮮は旧套墨守を続け、明治９年、江華島事件がきっかけなり、ようやく「日朝修好条規」が結ばれることになります。

　改革を求める朴泳孝、金玉均らの独立派が日本との協力による近代化を図ろうとして、明治１７年クーデターを起こし、改革政権を樹立します。しかし、事大党は清国の出兵を要請し優勢な清兵によってクーデターは鎮圧され、日本公使館が焼き払われます。朴泳孝、金玉均らは日本に亡命します。

　この事変の後、伊藤博文と李鴻章との間で、天津条約が結ばれ、両軍の撤退と、将来出兵する場合は互いに通告し合うことが決められました。しかし、清　が朝鮮の実効支配を強める中、今度はロシアという勢力が朝鮮に進出してきます。

　朝鮮の近代化支援に情熱を燃やして来た福沢諭吉が、「脱亜論」を書いたのは、このような状況下でした。「今日の謀をなすに、わが国は隣国の開明を待ちて共に亜細亜を起こすの猶予あるべからず、むしろその伍を脱して西洋の文明国と進退を共にし、・・・・」。

 

・その３，第１章　日本語原文： http://hassin.org/01/wp-content/uploads/Road3.pdf

・　〃　第１章　英訳文： http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road3E.pdf

 

令和４年９月１２日

「史実を世界に発信する会」会長　茂木弘道

協力者代表：神奈川大学教授　小山和伸

＊拡散大歓迎

 

THE ROAD TO THE GREATER EAST ASIAN WAR

Nakamura Akira, Professor Emeritus of Dokkyo University

(English Translation: Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact)

Part 3: Chapter 1 Beginnings of Modern Japan-Korean Relation

 

   Japan started Meiji-Renovation for opening up policy and modernization in 1872. To resume a new formal relation with Qing China and Korea was of utmost importance.

   Qing refused Japanese request for the first time, but because of recognition of some progressive bureaucrats of the court, the Sino-Japanese Friendship and trade Treaty was concluded in 1871.

   An important aspect of the 1871 treaty was the acknowledgement of mutual extraterritoriality and consular jurisdiction, which made it in an equal treaty.

   Then, how did the relation with Korea progress? In January 1868 the new government sent notifications to some nations announcing the restoration of imperial rule. However, Koreans received to accept the message. The reason given for their refusal was that the message from So contained several Chinese characters that did not appear in previous missives of that sort. They were the characters representing Imperial House of Japan, imperial decree, and imperial court. Since Korea was a tributary state of China, in the minds of the Koreans, the Chinese characters to which they took offense could be used only when referring to China. This was the start of Japan Korea modern relations.

   Even if Japan changed the expression characters, Korean stance did not change but became more arrogant. So, advocate of sending a punitive expedition against Korea intensified in Japan. Councillor Saigo Takamori volunteered himself as envoy plenipotentiary, and said that he would not be accompanied by military personnel, not even one soldier. However, Saigo’s proposal to launch a punitive expedition against Korea was declined; “Dispatching an emissary to Korea would be premature, there are frequent disputes with Russia over Karafuto (Sakhalin).

   Even though the Sino-Japanese Friendship and trade Treaty was concluded in 1871, Korea continued to stick to old tradition until 187, when Japan-Korea Treaty was concluded by the effect of  

The Ganghwa Island Incident.

   In December 1884, the Enlightenment Party, Kim-Ok-gyn and Pak Yong-hyo as leader, made a coup d’état with the support of from Japan. The Conservative Party asked China to send Troops to Korea. The coup was reversed. Kim Ok-gyun, Pak Yong-hyo, and other key members of the Enlightenment Party sought refuge in Japan.

   After this incident, the Convention of Tsientsin was concluded between Japan and Korea agreeing that both military in Kore be withdrawn and if Japan or China were to send troops due to unrest in Korea, the nation sending troops was obliged to notify the other before the fact. China dominated its position in Korea but Russia increased its control in Korea.

   Under such circumstances, Fukuzawa Yukichi, who made efforts to modernize Korea, wrote an article in Jiji shinpo: “Argument in Favor of Abandoning Asia”     

  When our thoughts turn to Japan’s foreign policy, we must realize that Japan does not have the time to wait for China and Korea to acquire modern civilization to the extent where Japan can join with them in encouraging the growth of Asia. Instead, Japan should separate itself from its declining neighbors and cast its fate with the enlightened nations of the West. …

URL:　 https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/1963/

PDF:　 http://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road3E.pdf

 

　MOTEKI Hiromichi, Chairman

Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact

Phone: 03-3519-4366

Fax: 03-3519-4367

Email moteki@sdh-fact.com

URL http://www.sdh-fact.com

Note: Japanese names are rendered surname first in accordance with Japanese custom.