§ 66. Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have received any information as to the persecution of native Christians in Korea; and, if so, whether he will lay papers upon the Table giving all the available particulars on the subject?
Mr. HARMSWORTHReports have been received from His Majesty's Embassy in Tokio and from His Majesty's Consul-General in Seoul, regarding the recent disturbances in Korea. A passive movement in favour of the independence of Korea was started last February by Korean students in Tokio, and later in Seoul, and subsequently spread to other parts of Korea. This movement was rigorously suppressed by the Japanese authorities, but in the reports received by His Majesty's Government there is nothing to show that native Christians originated the movement, or that the Japanese in suppressing it directed their efforts especially against the Christian population. Some of the latter doubtless suffered during the disturbance, and an English Missionary in the company of some Koreans was severely handled at one place by the Japanese gendarmes. The Japanese Government, however, at once conducted a special investigation, and expressed their regret at the occurrence, and their willingness to pay compensation. We have no papers which can properly be laid.