Mr. Peirce to Acting Secretary of State.
(Mr. Peirce reports that the Department’s telegram1 of the 29th, received last night, was communicated to Count Lamsdorff in an interview this morning. At his request Mr. Peirce submits the following for the Department’s consideration:
The Government of Russia is gratified to be informed that the Government of the United States will consent to withdraw troops from Pekin; but Count Lamsdorff regrets that the Russian charge d’affaires has not clearly defined the views and purposes of Russia. The Government of Russia has no intention to withdraw Russian minister or Russian forces from China, but from Pekin. They are about to reti re and remain at Tientsin and await further developments. Their motives for this action are that Russia, in common with other powers, has declared that war not existing, that the entry into Pekin was for the purpose of rescuing legations and that one of the reasons for the presence of Russian [Page 373] forces in China is to aid the Chinese Government to restore order. In view of these declarations the Government of Russia considers that to remain in Pekin after the declared purpose of the relief is accomplished would not be in accordance with the assurances to which it is pledged, and, far from aiding the Chinese Government to restore order, it would tend to discredit the Government of China with the Chinese people and paralyze, temporarily at least, its functions. It would be of necessity a military occupation, itself a belligerent act, and it would involve difficulties in maintaining order and grave responsibilities. Furthermore, it is believed that it would greatly increase the difficulties in negotiating with the Chinese Government which, if the capital is occupied, will find a new and inaccessible seat further in the interior. Russia believes, on the other hand, that if the ministers and forces retire to Tientsin the Chinese Government will reestablish itself in Pekin, and that then it will be much more practicable to negotiate, and that the terms thus agreed to would have greater validity than if wrested compulsorily from them in the progress of the negotiations. If the Chinese Government refuses to accede to the just demands of the powers it would be the policy of Russia to present an ultimatum, to be enforced, if necessary, by a declaration of war. But it is believed that peace will quickly follow the withdrawal from Pekin.)