Taft-Katsura Agreement

=Taft-Katsura Agreement=

http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/taft-pic.jpg http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/katsura-pic.jpg

Secretary of War William H. Taft       |        Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro

Pictures courtesy of: www.dokdo-takeshima.com

The Taft-Katsura Agreement was a set of notes referencing a meeting held in Tokyo, Japan on July 29, 1905 between Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro and US Secretary of War William H. Taft. These notes were found in 1924 and documented an unofficial agreement between Japan and the United States that Japan should colonize Korea. Prime Minister Katsura argued that Japan fought the Russo-Japanese War over Korea, and that Japan’s defense of Korea would be the logical solution to ensure Korea did not incite another war. Peace in East Asia was the goal for both diplomats, and Secretary Taft furthered this by commenting that Japan as a guide and protector of Korea would “contribute to permanent peace in the Far East."

Though Taft was sure to reiterate that this was his own opinion and had no bearing on the diplomatic stance of the United States, when Korea was annexed in 1910, the treaty went unchallenged.

"Korea and the Taft-Katsura Agreement." Historical Facts about Korea's Dokodo Islands. N.p., 2009. Web. 5 Nov 2010. .