근대 전환기 알렌 문서 정리ㆍ해제 및 DB화

알렌 문서(1888~1923)는 1884~1905년 조선에서 의료선교사, 조선 관원, 미국 외교관으로 활동한 미국인 알렌(Horace N. Allen, 1858~1932)이 1924년 뉴욕공립도서관에 기증한 문서고이다. 이 문서고는 일기와 서신, 메모, 원고를 비롯한 개인 문서와 주한미국공사관 서류를 비롯한 각종 공문서, 지도, 사진, 신문 기사 모두를 포함한다. 또 동시대 서양인들이 남긴 자료 중 양적으로나 질적으로, 또 주제의 다양성 측면에서도 가장 우수한 컬렉션이다.

자료 보기

알렌이 돌에게 한국의 해외이민법에 대해 알리는 건

서지사항
자료명알렌이 돌에게 한국의 해외이민법에 대해 알리는 건
자료번호R4-L7-07-007
문서종류서한
생산일자1075
작성자Horace N. Allen
수신자Sanford B. Dole
소장처뉴욕공공도서관
자료문의건양대학교 김현숙 교수
기타2016년도 한국학진흥사업 선정 연구결과임.

해제

1902년 12월 10일 알렌이 하와이 준주지사 돌(Sanford B. Dole)에게 보낸 서한이다. 알렌은 최근에 한국 정부에서 반포한 해외이민법안을 첨부하며, 하와이로의 이민에 관심을 갖는 한국인들이 있다고 전했다. 덧붙여 알렌은 한국인이 정부로부터 해외이민을 허가받는 것은 매우 어려운 일이나 잦은 기근으로 인해 자국민의 생계를 보장하는 것이 어려워 정부 측에서도 해외이민에 관심을 두고 있음을 전했다. 다음으로 알렌은 한국인은 끈기가 있고 일을 열심히 하는 민족이라 소개하며 시베리아에도 많은 수가 성공적으로 이주하였음을 밝혔다. 마지막으로 한국인은 중국인들보다 잘 교화될 수 있는 민족이며 하와이에서도 좋은 노동자로 자리매김 할 것이라 당부했다. (이영미)

문서원문 　　　 [ 문서 원본 PDF로 보기 ]

December 10 2

Miso.
His Excellency,
Sanford B. Dole,
Governor of Hawaii,
Honolulu, H. I.

Sir :
I take the liberty of handing you duplicate copies of an edict recently issued by the Korean Government regulating the emigration of Korean subject to foreign countries.
My reason for sending you these copies is that I learn it is the intention of a number of Koreans to try the experiment of emigrating to the Hawaiian Islands during the coming winter, with the idea of bettering their condition and preparing the way for others to follow in case the conditions are found to be satisfactory.
Heretofore it has been somewhat difficult for Koreans to get permission to leave their country, without which permission emigration would be attended with trouble on returning to their native land. The severe famine of the past winter made the matter seem all the more attractive to the people, while the fact that the Government had to import large quantities of rice to feed the starving seems to have turned the attention of the officials favorably to the subject of emigration. It is probable however that the pride of the Emperor in learning that his people might go where the great Chinese are excluded, had much to do with the matter.
The Koreans are so poor that not many of they would have the necessary funds without borrowing, for the purpose of emigrating with their families, but I am
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not at all inclined to think that this Government has any intention of assisting its people to emigrate by advancing the necessary funds. On the contrary, it is probably their intention of profiting from the people on their return. I imagine that those who are accompanied by their families may not care to return if the conditions are favorable to their residence abroad.
The Koreans are a patient, hard-working, docile race; easy to control from their long habit of obedience. They are usually very keen on getting a foreign education, and this has taken quite a number to the United States where a few have become naturalized, while these who have returned are doing well and are a credit to their American education.
Koreans have emigrated to Siberia in considerable numbers and they are reported as being most prosperous there where they are relieved from the official oppression which curses their own land.
It may be that these pioneers, if the actually get off, may not find the climate of Hawaii suitable to them, though they seem to thrive well in Japan, where colonies have lived for some countries. The Koreans taught the Japanese the art of making pottery and the original colonies are still intact in Japan, due to the regulations of the Japanese Government regarding them.
The Koreans are a more teachable race than the Chinese; they eat more meet than do the latter people, though their chief article of diet is rice.
If Koreans do get to the Islands in any numbers it will be a God-send to them and I imagine they will be found to be unobjectionable and of good service as laborers.
I have the honor to be, Sir:
Your obedient servant,
Enclosures