ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the First Lord of the Admiralty from as early as May 1885 expressing concern as to what should be done with the islands of Geomundo in the event of the situation with Russia cooling, a eventuality which soon came to pass. Britain always maintained to Korea that the occupation was temporary, and, while this may have been just part of the tactics of delay and obfuscation that characterised Britain's dealings with that country. The British boasted how well they treated the indigenous people living on the two inhabited islands surrounding the harbour of Port Hamilton. The secretary of the Admiralty had written very formally on 19 May 1886 demanding to be informed 'as soon as possible, on the decision of Her Majesty's Government relative to the retention of Port Hamilton', for there were significant naval matters upon which action had been suspended for want of a firm decision.
