The first news of the March 1 uprising published overseas appeared on March 13, 1919, in the New York Times and many other North American newspapers, with a byline 'Peking' KOREANS DECLARE FOR INDEPENDENCE Thousands Who Engage in Demonstration Are Arrested by the Japanese. Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.     PEKING, March 12. Information has reached here that the Korean independence demonstrations were more general than has been officially admitted Japanese of all classes in every part of the country came within the scope of the movement.The Japanese expected trouble to occur on March 3 on the occasion of the funeral of Prince Yi and called a large number of gendarmerie from the outlying stations into Seoul. The Korean Nationalists, knowing this, staged their independence day–for 3 1, when every town and village in the country had its own parade and demonstration in favor of Korean independence.The Japanese were unprepared. However, their authority regained its equilibrium and struck hard and quickly, thousands of demonstrators being arrested, though the Japanese reports speak of hundreds. The gendarmes arrested a number of students of the PingYang Presbyterian Theological School, who were not connected with the movement, stripped them, and tied them to rough, wooden crosses, exclaiming that as their Father had borne the cross they, too, should have the privilege of bearing it. At present the Japanese seem to have the Korean Independence movement under control, but underneath the surface the whole country is seething. The Korean nation will accept only one solution. It is hoped that Japan, at the Paris conference, will offer Korea independence subject to Japan’s advisory control until such time as the League of Nations deems the Koreans fit for absolute self-government.

At the same time, around and just after March 13, many North American newspapers published the following summary of a Declaration of Korea's Independence in whole or in part. Given that A. W. Taylor certainly held a temporary position as Associated Press correspondent, it would seem that he might well have been the author of this dispatch. The most complete form of the text seems to be this, it was often shortened: SEOUL, March 12, (Associated Press.) The declaration of Korea’s independence says that it represents the voice of 20,000.000 persons, speaking in the name of justice and humanity. “We are no mean people,” the declaration continues. “We have forty-three centuries of history as a distinct self-governing nation. It is our solemn duty to secure the right of free and perpetual development of our own national character, adapting ourselves to the principles of the reconstruction of the world. "It is nearly ten years since, for the first time In our history, we put on the yoke of another nation and were made the victims of the curse of the moat imperialistic Imperialism of the world." The declaration continues that it is the duty of Koreans to obtain their independence, to wipe out injuries, get rid of our present sufferings and stir up the national spirit and vitality, so long suppressed by the unjust regime of Japan, and leave our children eternal freedom instead of a bitter and shameful inheritance. We shall fight to the last drop of blood in the great cause of liberty.” It is asserted that there is no intention on the part of the Koreans to avenge themselves against Japan, that their only desire is to right the wrongs that were done, not by Japan  but by the few of her statesmen who were led by the old aggressive policy. It adds that the actual result of annexation without the free consent of  the people concerned was bitter, and unreconcilable animosity and hostility were growing between the Japanese and the Koreans. The two nations, the declaration continued, ought to and must enter into new relations of friendship and happiness. Moreover, It says, with a view to maintaining peace in the far east, the independence of Korea is of deep significance, for continued occupation of Korea is liable to provoke more suspicion and fear against Japan in the minds of the 400,000,000 people in China. "Could any international peace be expected without perfect harmony among the eastern nations?" says the document. "We believe the independence of Korea worthy of universal consideration and approval. We shall live to be free; we shall enjoy heaven-given happiness. Justice is with us. Righteousness is leading us. All citizens, male and female, young and old, have risen from the gloomy dungeon to push their way into freedom. Our forefathers inspire us and the world supports us." However, this text is not that of the Declaration signed by the 33 representatives in Seoul on March 1 and smuggled out of Korea by V. S. McClatchy then published in Honolulu etc on March 28. Instead it summarizes the Manifesto composed by The Korean National Independence Union and also dated March 1. The account of Korea's declaration of independence with the text of this Manifesto was first smuggled to Shanghai where it was telegraphed on March 9 to Ahn Chang-ho, president of the Korean Association of North America, in San Francisco. The telegram said, "The Korean National Independence union of 3,000,000 persons, including 2,000 Christian churches and 5,000 Churches of Heaven worshippers, all colleges and other bodies, declared the independence of Korea at 1 p.m. March 1 in Seoul, Pyongyang and other cities." It also noted that Korean representatives were being sent to Paris to attend the Paris Peace Conference and present Korea's plea for independence.

The following complete text in English of the Manifesto dated March 1 issued by The Korean National Independence Union is found in The Problem of the Pacific in the Twentieth Century, by General N. Golovin in Collaboration with Admiral A. D. Bubnov. Translated By C. Nabokoff. Introduction By Harold Williams. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.1922 Manifesto of the Korean People issued to the World on March 1, 1919. "We, the Korean Nation, hereby declare the independence of Korea before all nations, assuming that this will be generously recognized by them. "We declare this with the united voice of twenty million people in the name of Justice and Humanity. We are no mean people, having a long history as a distinctive, integrative, self- governing nation through the course of forty-three centuries. It is a most solemn duty for us to secure the right of free and perpetual development of our own national character and ability, adapting ourselves to the principles of the reconstruction of the world. "It is nearly ten years since we were for the first time in our history put under the yoke of another nation, and made a victim of the cursed militaristic Imperialism of the old world. Since then, how much our spiritual development has been hampered, our national dignity injured ! And how many opportunities have been lost to make a contribution to the civilisation of the world ! Oh, fellow-citizens ! The most urgent and the greatest duty for us is to secure our national independence, in order to wipe out the past resentment, to get rid of the present sufferings, to remove the future threatenings, to stir up the national spirit and vitality so long suppressed under the unjust regime of Japan, and to leave our children eternal freedom and perfect happiness instead of the bitter and shameful inheritance of to-day. We shall fight to the last drop of blood in the great cause of liberty. " We do not blame Japan for breaking treaties in which so often and so solemnly she promised to guarantee the independence of Korea. Nor do we complain of her for calling our land a colony and treating us as slaves. It is unnecessary for us to find faults in others. We do not mean to take such a measure as to avenge ourselves upon Japan. All we desire to do is to right wrongs done to us, not by the Japanese nation, but by a few of her statesmen who were led by the 'old' aggressive policy. " See the actual outcome of the annexation which was made in 1910 without the free consent of the peoples concerned. A bitter and irreconcilable animosity is growing deeper and deeper between these two peoples, though it has been glossed over with a tranquil appearance caused only by heavy pressure, and by a series of so-called statistics, most of which have nothing to do with our welfare. It is clear that the two nations must and ought to enter into a new relation for good friendship in order to enjoy permanent happiness and to avoid further perils on both sides. Moreover, in the matter of maintaining the peace of the Far East the independence of Korea is not without deep significance. It is not only because the injustice which subdued twenty million people of Korea must prove a source of incessant alarm, but because any further occupation by Japan of Korea is likely to provoke more suspicion and fear against Japan in the minds of four hundred million people of China ; whereas true friendly relations between the two peoples are the only basis upon which any eternal peace of the East can possibly be established. Could any international peace be expected without the perfect harmony of the Eastern Nations ? Hence we are assured that the independence of Korea is worthy of universal consideration and approval. " Ah ! a new epoch is opening before us. The age of Might is gone, and the age of Right has come. The history of mankind will henceforth shine with the glorious light of the new civilisation led by the spirit of humanity which has been fostered through all ages past. We have no hesitation and no fear in marching on towards our goal, as we are now at a new turn of the world and a fresh start of the universe. We shall live. We shall be free. We shall enjoy the Heaven-given happiness. We shall do our best as a member of the family of the nations in rendering any service called for to promote the peace and civilisation of the world. " We have arisen now ! Justice is with us. Righteousness is leading us ! All citizens, male and female, young and old, have risen up from the gloomy dungeon to push their way into the bright Freedom. Our forefathers inspire us, and the world supports us. Go on, fellow-citizens ! The Representatives of The Korean National Independence Union."

The above text seems to be inspired by a slightly earlier text, known in Korea as the February 8 Declaration of Independence, 2·8 독립선언, which was composed in Tokyo and distributed from there to embassies, newspapers and also by telegraph overseas. The future novelist Yi Gwang-su is reported to have made an English translation at that time, now seemingly lost. The Korean Young People’s Independence Organization declares, on behalf of the 20 million Korean people, the independence of the Korean nation, doing so in front of all the countries in the world, which have already secured the triumphs of justice and freedom. With its 4,300-year history, the Korean nation is one of the oldest in the world. Although Korea once served China, theirs was a formal diplomatic relationship between two royal families. Thus, Korea had always existed as an independent nation, never losing its status as a unified country, and never being ruled by another nation. Indeed, describing Japan’s relationship with Korea as like that of teeth and gums, Japan took the lead in recognizing Korea’s sovereignty at the end of the 1895 Sino-Japanese War. At that same time, many other countries, including England, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia, not only recognized but also promised to preserve Korea’s independence. Grateful for their pledges, Korea pursued reforms in all areas of its society and the development of national power with a firm resolution. Subsequently, when Russian forces moved southward and threatened the peace in East Asia and stability in Korea, Japan entered into the Russo-Japanese War, after forming an alliance with Korea. Since the goals of this alliance were peace in East Asia and the preservation of Korean independence, Korea was thankful to Japan and pursued these two goals by fulfilling various obligations, although it could not aid Japan with its own army and navy, while at the same time sacrificing the dignity of its sovereignty. At last, the war concluded and meetings were held between Japan and Russia (the Treaty of Portsmouth), conducted through the mediation of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. But Japan barred the participation of Korea, its ally, at these meetings, and the delegates from Russia and Japan arbitrarily discussed Japanese suzerainty over Korea. As a result, violating its prior promise to use its superior military power in order to help Korea preserve its independence, Japan threatened and deceived an ill-advised and thoughtless Korean emperor and government and turned the country into a Japanese protectorate, depriving Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty, with the pretext of doing so “until the time when Korea will achieve the full capability to gain independence. After blocking Korea from negotiating directly with various countries in the world, Japan first robbed Korea of its judicial power and police authority, under the pretext of doing so “until an appropriate time,” and then disbanded the Korean military, confiscated civilian weapons, and dispatched the Japanese military and military police to all regions of Korea. After deploying Japanese police even for security at the Korean imperial palace, and making it impossible for Korea to resist, Japan forced the relatively bright Korean emperor to abdicate in order to enthrone the young crown prince, organized a so-called annexation cabinet with Korean collaborators, and had them enter into an annexation treaty with Japan through secrecy and force. Thus, the 5,000-year-old Korean nation became sacrificed to the militaristic ambitions of a duplicitously friendly nation that had offered to guide and assist it. In fact, since Japan’s actions in Korea were based on fraud and violence, the success of this enormous deception would become an incident of enormous and particular disgrace in the history of humanity. When the protectorate treaty was forced on Korea, our emperor and some Korean ministers who were not collaborators tried all manner of resistance. Even after the treaty was officially declared, the Korean people attempted various means of resistance and mobilization without any military weapons. Also, during the time when the Korean judicial power and police authority were taken away and the Korean military was disbanded, the lives of many Koreans were sacrificed because of advanced Japanese weaponry, while they were resisting in any way possible, without possessing a single piece of metal. For 15 years after the enactment of the protectorate treaty, hundreds of thousands of Koreans have been victimized while struggling to regain their independence. But even while Koreans were oppressed, deprived of the freedom of expression, and with their hands and feet bound by this horrendous military-police politics, they have never given up on their independence movement—a fact that in and of itself counters the lie that the Japanese annexation of Korea occurred in accord with the Korean people’s will. Since the Korean people are now subject to this fate against our will because of the fraud and violence committed by Japanese militaristic ambitions, we have a right to demand that this wrong be corrected in the present world, where humanity is trying to build a more just society. Also, as the U.S. and England are to blame for taking the initiative in recognizing the Japanese annexation of Korea, we assert that they have a special duty to atone for their past wrongdoing. In addition, when we consider the current situation in Korea, Japan has continued to ignore the happiness and welfare of the Korean people, in violation of their own stated purpose, made at the time of annexation, and have instead adopted an ancient conqueror’s inhumane policies against a conquered people. They have not only prohibited political rights, freedom of assembly and association, and freedom of the press and publication, but also limited freedom of religion and freedom of enterprise, to a great extent, while all the administrative, judicial, and police institutions under their rule have been violating the human rights of Koreans. Claiming that Koreans are fundamentally inferior to the Japanese, Japan offers us inferior education in order to maintain the country as a subservient population. Also, by altering our national history, Japan ignores or destroys the Korean people’s sacred historical traditions and its dignity. Further, by employing Japanese, except for a few Koreans, in all higher positions, including governmental offices, offices of transportation and communication, and military facilities, Japan attempts to forever bar Koreans from obtaining the opportunity to acquire knowledge and experience in governance. It is impossible for Koreans to survive and develop themselves under this wrongful and unequal system, where power is maintained by brute and arbitrary force and oppression. Furthermore, by encouraging and assisting unlimited Japanese immigration into Korea, whose population is already been overflowing, Koreans who have lived on their land for generations are driven away and end up wandering in foreign countries. And by employing Japanese people not only in governmental offices but also private institutions, Koreans are deprived of their jobs, while Korean wealth flows into Japan. Also, by offering preferential treatment to the Japanese in commerce and industry, Japan deprives Koreans of opportunities for industrial development and revival. In short, no matter where one looks at the current situation, the interests of the Korean people and Japan contradict each other—and only the Korean people are harmed by it. Therefore, we argue for the independence of Korea for the sake of our people’s right of survival. Lastly, from the perspective of peace in East Asia, the powerful nation Russia has already relinquished its militaristic ambitions and is in the midst of establishing a new country based on justice and equality. The same is true in China. In addition, since the League of Nations has been formed, more-powerful countries will not dare to attempt militaristic aggression against other countries. Thus, not only has the greatest excuse for the annexation of Korea now disappeared, but Korea, annexed to Japan, could become a cause of much upheaval and destroy peace in East Asia—if Korean people end up carrying out numerous rebellions or revolutions. Although we would like to pursue our freedom through legitimate means, if we have to, we will resort to actions in order to establish our right to survival. We will shed blood for freedom, until the last fighter, if we cannot succeed through legitimate means. If this happens, would it not be a miserable outcome and the cause of great misery in East Asia? The Korean people do not possess a single soldier. We do not have the military power to resist Japan. Yet, if Japan does not respond to the Korean people’s just demands, we will have to declare an everlasting and bloody war against Japan. The Korean people have maintained a sophisticated culture and the experience of a national life for almost 5,000 years. At the same time, the harms and unhappiness resulting from many years of autocracy have led Korean people to today’s reality. Yet we trust that the Korean people, who have loved and favored justice and peace since its establishment, will be able to contribute to peace in the world and its culture of humanity, once we can found a new country, modelled after advanced nations and on the foundation of democracy based on justice and freedom. Thus, the Korean people demand that Japan and the other countries of the world give us an opportunity for self-determination. If not, we declare that we will achieve independence through free actions for the survival of our nation. We argue for Korean independence because the Japanese annexation of Korea did not originate from the Korean people’s free will and because it threatens their survival and development and disturbs the peace in East Asia. We demand that Japanese parliament and government convene a Korean people’s assembly and give it an opportunity to determine the country’s destiny through its resolutions. We demand that the International Peace Conference apply the principle of national self-determination to Korea. In order to convey this demand, we will deliver our message to ambassadors from various countries in Japan and demand that they deliver it to their governments, while at the same time we dispatch two of our own delegates to the International Peace Conference. Our delegates will work in unison with the Korean delegates dispatched before. If all the above demands fail, we declare an everlasting war against Japan. Furthermore, the Korean people will not be responsible for any ensuing hardships or disasters. Representatives of the Korean Young People’s Independence Organization in Japan