[190] The following is the authorized English text of the Protocol, signed at Seoul, on February 23, 1904:— Mr. Hayashi, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and Major-General Yi Tchi Yong, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs _ad interim_ of His Majesty the Emperor of Korea, being respectively duly empowered for the purpose, have agreed upon the following Articles:— ARTICLE I.—For the purpose of maintaining a permanent and solid friendship between Japan and Korea and firmly establishing peace in the Far East, the Imperial Government of Korea shall place full confidence in the Imperial Government of Japan and adopt the advice of the latter in regard to improvements in administration. ARTICLE II.—The Imperial Government of Japan shall in a spirit of firm friendship insure the safety and repose of the Imperial House of Korea. ARTICLE III.—The Imperial Government of Japan definitively guarantees the independence and territorial integrity of the Korean Empire. ARTICLE IV.—In case the welfare of the Imperial House of Korea or the territorial integrity of Korea is endangered by aggression of a third Power or internal disturbances, the Imperial Government of Japan shall immediately take such necessary measures as the circumstances require, and in such cases the Imperial Government of Korea shall give full facilities to promote the action of the Imperial Japanese Government. The Imperial Government of Japan may, for the attainment of the above-mentioned object, occupy, when the circumstances require it, such places as may be necessary from strategical points of view. ARTICLE V.—The Governments of the two countries shall not in future, without mutual consent, conclude with a third Power such an arrangement as may be contrary to the principle of the present Protocol. ARTICLE VI.—Details in connection with the present Protocol shall be arranged as the circumstances may require, between the Representative of Japan and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Korea. [191] See Chapter XXI. [192] Pages 14 and 301. [193] Certainly the Japanese enjoy more social freedom and political privileges than the subjects of the Czar. Intellectual liberty is not repressed in Japan as in Russia, and freedom of assembly and of the press is permitted in Japan, but not in Russia. The administration of law and justice in Japan is by far more humane than in Russia with its Siberian horrors. Again, strongest of all, nominally non-Christian Japan grants religious liberty, while nominally Christian Russia cruelly persecutes Jews and Stundists. In fact, in what constitutes true greatness, Japan is superior to Russia. [194] It had established a record by holding office for four and one-half years, the longest period of any Ministry since the establishment of constitutional government. [195] For text, see end of Appendix. [196] The word “Meiji” means “Enlightened Rule.”