William Franklin Sands' diplomatic and undiplomatic views of late Joseon

Sands and a friend smoke together in Seoul. Courtesy of "Undiplomatic Memories" by William Franklin Sands

By Robert Neff

Cover of "William Franklin Sands in Late Choson Korea" by Wayne Patterson (Lexington Books, 2021)

In 1896, at the tender age of 22, William Franklin Sands was appointed second secretary at the American Legation in Tokyo. The baby-faced Sands was a privileged youth; his father was an admiral who knew everyone ― including the president ― and was not above using his influence to open doors for his son. But even the privileged sometimes became victims of the vortex of politics in Washington D.C., and with a new president came changes ― Sands was replaced a little over a year after his arrival.

Undaunted, he returned to the United States in August 1897. Once again, through his father's influence, as well as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge's assistance, he was able to secure another diplomatic post. One of his mentors advised him to accept a position in Korea:

"Korea is the place. Nobody wants it; it is too insignificant ― but it is there you will see diplomacy in the raw; diplomacy without gloves, perfume or phrases…. Get out to Korea and watch. We need somebody to know what it is all about, and we ought not to take all our information from the chief conspirators."

Sands accepted the position as secretary of the American Legation in Seoul ― he claimed he could have had the position of minister had he "more presence of mind and less scruple" ― and arrived in Korea on Jan. 10, 1898.

The American consul general building in 1912 Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

Much of what we knew about Sands comes from his own book, "Undiplomatic Memories," or from Horace Allen's letters and documents. Allen was the American minister to Korea and, while he may have been supportive of Sands in the beginning, he was one of Sands' greatest critics. Now we have another source ― a more balanced and trustworthy examination of Sands and his tenure in the American Legation as well as the Korean court ― Wayne Patterson's book, "William Franklin Sands in Late Choson Korea."

Patterson's writing style is informative and very reader-friendly and compliments Sands' own style of writing. I would definitely recommend reading Sands' book first and then Patterson's. Unlike the white-washed accounts in "Undiplomatic Memories," Patterson's book unabashedly reveals Sands' true impressions of Korea and the pressures ― internal and external ― that were asserted upon the peninsula.

In his book, Sands wrote that "Chemulpo was an unattractive entrance to a great adventure" and then provided a rather benign description of the port. Patterson, however, using Sands' own letters, reveals the young American's real first impressions:

"What a very awful country! Bleak, desolate, absolutely forlorn. A cold reception enough after the rough passage from Nagasaki. However, I am glad to be ashore again at any price, even though the people are dirty, and ugly, and the country uninteresting and bare.… Not a sign of civilization, an awful place. Nagasaki was heavenly compared to this."

Hongjimun and Ogandaesumun in the early 1900s Courtesy of "Undiplomatic Memories" by William Franklin Sands

In his book, Sands described the journey from Chemulpo to Seoul in wonderful prose, poetic at times, and declared:

"Seoul is the heart of the nation and the center of its life much more than Peking or Tokyo is the center of Chinese of Japanese national life. Seoul is to Korea much more than Paris is to France…"

In his first letters from Seoul, he described the city "as quite picturesque with its grey walls and background of black hills," but on the following day his writing turned ugly:

"Seoul is dirty beyond all description, a medley of mud, filth and refuse of every description, pigs, pariah dogs, and worse, humans. It seems a most bleak, unpromising country."

His recollections of the Korean monarch also differ. In "Undiplomatic Memories," he wrote:

"The emperor, a white-faced little man, eager and timid in manner, was clothed in marvelous golden silk embroidered with the imperial dragon. He greeted us warmly, friendly and without ceremony…. I took a great liking to the kindly gentle emperor, so evidently unfitted by temperament and training for the complexities of his rank in a changing civilization, and harried from his early childhood by forces which he did not understand and could not control, but against which he rebelled."

Hongjimun and Ogandaesumun in 2020 Robert Neff Collection

However, in his official correspondences, Sands' opinion was much different. He declared the emperor to be "absolutely untrustworthy, utterly without conscience, surrounded by Ministers of equally lax ideas of honesty and morality."

While Sands was very diplomatic in his book in regards to the country and its monarch, he was very "undiplomatic" when he described other Korean officials and especially the foreign community. There are insinuations of murder (including regicide), illicit activities and romantic affairs (some one-sided) ― all of which make his book a wonderful read. However, Sands barely mentioned Allen in his book, but when he did it was in a respectable manner. Allen, on the other hand, seemed to take great pleasure in denigrating Sands in his own writing.

Patterson's book provides another facet of the community gossip ― particularly the gossip surrounding Sands. Sands enjoyed gambling ― particularly cards ― but wasn't very good as evidenced by the amount of money he supposedly owed in gambling debts. In fact, the young American owed a lot of people money ― more than 30,000 yen ($15,000) ― and may have misappropriated some of the funds he received while working for the Korean government. Allen suggested Sands had spent some 60,000 yen ($30,000) in addition to his salary during his three-year term with the Korean government.

Where did he spend this money? Well, Sands was a "lady killer" and enjoyed female companionship. There were several Western women he flirted with ― including Christine Collbran (who was also very popular with the Italian minister to Korea as well as some of the other junior diplomats) and the teenage wife of the Russian representative to Korea. However, it was a Japanese woman who caught his attention ― and his pocket. According to Allen's poisonous pen:

"Sands' sleeping partner, 'Miss Butterfly,' who seems to be a favorite with young men, wanted to send a kimono to [American Legation Secretary Gordon] Paddock. She told the [Korean] servant to take [it] to 'Gordon,' but as she could not speak the name any plainer than the Korean, the latter addressed the envelope for her, containing her card and love, etc. to Mr. Collbran. Mrs. Collbran opened it, and [Mr.] Collbran was under the Doctor's care for three days. When he got out, there was a great time between him and Sands and Paddock, the two latter went and made a full explanation which appeased the ladies' wrath apparently, for they are both now received as usual. No wonder life is interesting in the far east."

Segeomjeong in the early 1900s Courtesy of "Undiplomatic Memories" by William Franklin Sands

I am surprised Patterson did not mention that Mrs. Collbran was no saint ― she was competing with her step-daughter for the Italian minister's affections. It got so bad that Mr. Collbran refused to allow the Italian minister to call upon the house.

But to return to "Miss Butterfly," her relationship with Sands cost him 700 yen a month ― despite the fact his salary was only 300 yen a month. Fortunately, some of his other companions came at a cheaper price ― 60 sen (30 cents) for honey for his pet bear.

Patterson also provides additional information about Sands' role during the Jeju Island Uprising in 1901 which was not included in "Undiplomatic Memories." Not only did Patterson use Sands' letters and manuscripts, he also used the testimonies and memories of Sands' sons. In a 1994 interview, James Sands, then in his 80s, declared, "My father was a dangerous man." He even produced a brick from Jeju Island that still bore the indentation of a bullet that had barely missed his father's head (you can read about the near-miss in Sands' book). Patterson also quotes Willmott Lewis, who knew Sands as "tall, young, and entirely without fear …[having] known what it was like to sleep for weeks with a pistol in one hand and a Japanese sword in the other, or to dine with the holster-strap of a service revolver draped like the ribbon of a decoration across his front."

There is also a very interesting section about Sands' relationship with the Belgian advisers. Their involvement with the Russians is often overlooked ― one was said to have even been a Russian spy ― and Patterson provides a wonderful but tantalizing look behind that door ― a door that needs to be opened up some more.

Segeomjeong in 2023 Robert Neff Collection

Patterson also examines the political dynamics surrounding the early concession (mining and railroading) hunting by the Americans, Japanese and Russians. Sands played an active role in these negotiations which earned him a great deal of hostility from the respective foreign parties and even leading Koreans. After Sands wrote his book, Syngman Rhee reviewed it and was seemingly impressed. Patterson included part of the review:

"Dr. Rhee says that he had always thought the emperor made a mistake in employing Sands, but now he is convinced that Sands made sincere and praiseworthy efforts to maintain the neutrality of Korea and that his tenacity was remarkable. He felt that Sands unknowingly saw much through Japanese eyes; that he was a very young and inexperienced man with no knowledge of the Orient, but that his sincere desire to help Korean people was beyond question; and that, had he been backed up by his government, Korea would not have been submerged."

There is no question that "Undiplomatic Memories" is a great read. It is full of wonderful anecdotes and opinions but what I find even more interesting is what it doesn't contain. Sands whitewashed or conveniently forgot many of the controversies surrounding him, gave little acknowledgement to the privilege he was afforded through his father and overlooked his childish tantrums and threats as evidenced in his memorials to the Korean monarch and letters of resignation ― and that is why Patterson's book is so important, because it includes them.

Not only does "William Franklin Sands in Late Choson Korea" provide a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of the foreign community and the Korean court ― including copies of his memorials to the throne ― it also describes Sands' later years and his attempt to once again play a role in Korea after World War II.

It should be noted that I know Wayne Patterson and my view may be biased by our relationship but I truly believe this is a must-read for anyone interested in Korean history in the final years of Joseon. The real undiplomatic memories are not in Sands' book, but in Patterson's book.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.