Mr. Tower to Mr.
Hay.
Embassy
of the United States,
St.
Petersburg, March 19,
1902.
No. 547.]
Sir: In supplement to my dispatch, No. 543, of
the 13th of March, in regard to the interruptions complained of in the
telegraphic service at Niuchwang, I have the honor to inclose to you
herewith copy of a note dated the 2d (15th) of March from Count
Lamsdorff, Imperial Russian minister for foreign affairs, replying to
the note upon that subject which I addressed to him, under instructions
from you, on the 4th of March.a
Monsieur de Lamsdorff says that there has been but one instance since the
18th of last December when foreign telegrams were sent from Niuchwang by
mail to Liaoian to be forwarded from there by telegraph. This was done,
he adds, because the line was interrupted and the Russian authorities
wished to expedite the messages.
The minister for foreign affairs assures me, however, that in consequence
of my recent interview with him at which this subject was discussed, he
has made further and renewed inquiries in regard to it, the result of
which he will communicate to me.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Count Lamsdorff
to Mr. Tower.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
First
Department,
St.
Petersburg, March 2 (15), 1902.
Mr. Ambassador: In reply to your
excellency’s note of the 19th of February (March 4) relating to
irregularities in the telegraphic communication at Niuchwang, I have
the honor to inform you from reports now in the possession of the
ministry for foreign affairs that since the date at which the
reception of international telegrams by the field-telegraph bureau
at that place was authorized—that is to say, since the 18th of last
December—there has been but one case in which nine international
telegrams were sent by post to Liaoian to be forwarded from there by
telegraph. These messages were thus sent by reason of a break in the
telegraph line and because the Russian telegraph authorities wished
to employ every means to forward messages without delay.
Nevertheless, in view of the facts presented by you, the ministry of
foreign affairs has communicated again upon this subject with the
proper authorities and will not fail to inform your excellency of
their reply as soon as it shall have been received.
Please accept, etc.,