that government till 1886, when it secured the insertion of the following clause in its treaty of that date: "Frenchmen resorting to Corea for the purpose of there studying or teaching the written or spoken language, sciences, laws or arts, shall in testimony of the sentiment of good friendship which animate the high contracting parties always receive aid and assistance." In 1888 the American minister was notified by the Korean government that "teaching religion and opening schools of any kind are not authorized by the treaty," and that the government would "not allow religion taught to our people," and the minister was asked to advise his countrymen to observe this prohibition.
Secretary Bayard held that, in the absence of knowledge of how the French and Korean governments construed the clause above cited, Americans could not claim a warrant for religious teaching among the natives from the terms of the French treaty. But the French government and the Catholic missionaries did claim such warrant, and despite the protest of the Korean government they have successfully maintained this claim. As a result American and other foreign missionaries have continued their labors, and they have been attended with a fair degree of success.[1]
From the time that Japan, after the restoration of the Mikado in 1868, requested the Koreans to resume their ancient tributary relation, a continuous effort was
- ↑ U. S. For. Rel. 1884, p. 127; 1886, p. 222; 1888, pp. 446–449; Gundry's China, 255; Report on Korean Mission, by Rev. A. J. Brown, Presbyterian Board, New York, 1902, p. 7.
