Mr. Rockhill to Mr.
Hay.
No. 124.]
Commissioner of
the United States to China,
Peking,
China, June 24,
1901.
Sir: For your further information in connection
with my No. 122 of the 22d instant, regarding the military occupation of
Shanhaikwan, I inclose herewith translation of a declaration of the Russian
military agent in China, reserving to his Government the right of having as
Russia’s quota of the garrison at Shanhaikwan as large a number of troops as
she may deem necessary to discharge the duties devolving upon her.
This document should have accompanied my previous dispatch on the
subject.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
General de Wogack
to Count von Waldersee.
Military Agent in China,
Port
Arthur, May 16,
1901.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter dated the 3d of May.
While agreeing perfectly with all the other decisions taken at the
conference of the commanders of the allied contingents, held on the 29th
of April under your high presidency and at which I had the great regret
of not being able to be present for reasons beyond my control, I can
not, according to my instructions, accept as definitely decided the
resolution fixing the garrison of Shanhaikwan at 1,500 men furnished by
five of the allied powers, Including Russia.
[Page 252]
As Russia has at present to insure protection of the railway line from
Shanhaikwan to Niuchwang (Yinkow) and toward Hsinminting, she is,
through that fact, in a peculiar position, as a result of which it may
happen that she may deem it necessary to have at Shanhaikwan a stronger
garrison than that indicated so as to be able to effectively insure
security of the head of this railway line; and for that reason she
declares to reserve to herself full liberty to fix the number of her
proportion of the garrison of Shanhaikwan to the strength which she may
deem necessary to discharge the duties devolving upon her.
Please accept, Monsieur le Maréchal, the assurance of my very high
consideration.
