Mr. Tower to Mr.
Hay.
Embassy
of the United States,
St.
Petersburg, February 12,
1902.
No. 529.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you
herewith a copy of the reply of Count Lamsdorff, Imperial minister for
foreign affairs, dated the 9th of February, to the note which I
addressed to nim, under telegraphic instructions from you, on the 3d of
February, in regard to the report that exclusive concessions in
Manchuria were about to be granted by China to the Russo-Chinese
Bank.
As this reply is of so great moment, and as the inquiry made by you has
elicited the very important declaration, in writing, that Russia firmly
intends to withdraw her troops from Manchuria and return that province
to China as soon as arrangements for the evacuation can be made and
precautions taken to guard against a fresh outbreak, I telegraphed it to
you in very full detail in my cipher dispatch of the 10th
[Page 929]
of February, a copy of the
text of which is respectfully attached hereto.a
In order that the Count Lamsdorff’s note may be brought as fully as
possible before you, I inclose herewith copies of the original Russian
text” of the French translation of it,a which accompanied it from the Imperial ministry for
foreign affairs, and of an English translation made at this embassy.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Count Lamsdorff
to Mr. Tower.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
First Department, January 27 (February 9),
1902.
No. 96.]
Mr. Ambassador: The Imperial Government,
always desirous of cultivating and developing the best relations
with the United States of America, is fully disposed to remove the
anxiety which the proposed arrangements between Russia and China
appear to have caused the Cabinet at Washington, but it feels itself
bound at the same time to declare that negotiations carried on
between two entirely independent States are not subjects to be
submitted to the approval of other powers.
There is no thought of attacking the principle of the “open door” as
that principle is understood by the Imperial Government of Russia,
and Russia has no intention whatever to change the policy followed
by her in that respect up to the present time.
If the Russo-Chinese Bank should obtain concessions in China, the
agreements of a private character relating to them would not differ
from those heretofore concluded by so many other foreign
corporations. But would it not be very strange if the “door” that is
“open” to certain nations should be closed to Russia, whose
frontier-adjoins that of Manchuria and who has been forced by recent
events to send lur troops into that province to reestablish order in
the plain and common interest of all nations? It is true that Russia
has conquered Manchuria, but she still maintains her firm
determination to restore it to China and recall her troops as soon
as the conditions of evacuation shall have been agreed upon and the
necessary steps taken to prevent a fresh outbreak of troubles in the
neighboring territory.
It is impossible to deny to an independent State the right to grant
to others such concessions as it is free to dispose of, and I have
every reason to believe that the demands of the Russo-Chinese Bank
do not in the least exceed those that have been so often formulated
by other foreign companies, and I feel that under the circumstances
it would not be easy for the Imperial Government to deny to Russian
companies that support which is given by other governments to
companies and syndicates of their own nationalities.
At all events, I beg your excellency to believe that there is not,
nor can there be, any question of the contradiction of the
assurances which, under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, I
have had occasion to give heretofore in regard to the principles
which invariably direct the policy of Russia. Please accept,
etc.,
