Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

The Japanese minister to the Secretary of State.

Japanese Legation, October 20, 1900.

[Handed to Mr. Adee by Mr. Takahira October 20, 1900.]

Reaffirming their complete adhesion to the concert which so happily unites the interested powers in the presence of the crisis in the Chinese Empire, the imperial Japanese Government desire to suggest that all demands and proposals which are to form the bases of negotiation with China should, prior to the opening of such negotiations, be submitted for collective examination and elaboration to the representatives of the powers at Pekin. The imperial Government are convinced that as all demands and proposals would thus receive the united support of the powers concerned, the actual negotiation would by this means be greatly simplified.

You are hereby instructed to approach the United States Government and ascertain their views in regard to the above suggestion.