You will observe that this note contains substantially all the demands
named in my telegram, and consequently when the minister for foreign
affairs at St. Petersburg informed you that the reports were “wholly
untrue” he could not have been fully informed of what his chargé
d’affaires was doing at Peking. You will also observe that in this note
Russia makes the acceptance of these demands by China the condition on
which she will withdraw her troops.
Telegrams from St. Petersburg, via London, announce that the Russian
minister, Mr. Lessar, is starting for his post, Peking, and as he is
more familiar with the situation than the chargé d’affaires, the whole
matter is to be left for him to adjust on his arrival here. It is fair
to presume, therefore, that affairs will practically remain in statu quo until this shall reach you.
I have, as directed in your telegram of the 29th ultimo, confidentially
communicated to the Chinese Government the statement of the Russian
minister for foreign affairs.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
From the original Russian note sent by Mr.
de Plançon to Prince Ch’ing.
Plançon, councillor of state, chargé d’affaires of
the great Russian Empire, to Ch’ing, prince of the first rank, prime
minister of the Ta Ching Empire, and to the dignitaries of the
ministry of foreign affairs, a communication:
By command of the Imperial Government I have the honor to make to
you, honored prince and ministers, the following communication:
Russia and China have for more than two hundred years had with each
other relations that have been always distinguished by their very
friendly character, and this very naturally. Two neighboring people
having a common frontier more than
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5,000 versts in length and many common affairs
and interests may easily come to an understanding about everything.
The interference of strangers in these mutual relations only spoils
them and impedes the settlement of affairs. It is for this reason
that Russia, highly prizing friendly relations with China, considers
it her duty to guard them from alien interference.
This applies particularly to Manchuria. Russia has sacrificed
thousands of lives and millions of treasure for the pacification of
this country and for the restoration in it of lawful Chinese
authority quite apart from the millions that have been expended in
the construction of a great railway for the common benefit of all
nations. Other powers have not expended on the pacification of
Manchuria a single ruble or a single soldier. It would seem,
therefore, full just that Russia should have the right to safeguard
her interests, bought at so high a price, in that country without
evoking the jealousy of other powers. All foreigners have profited
by the tranquillity established in the country and by the roads
opened up in it, and with this they ought, in justice, to be
satisfied, remembering that only a few years ago access into
Manchuria was entirely closed to them.
Many states, after the expenditure of treasure and military force in
the pacification of some country or island, habitually unite it to
their own dominions by right of conquest. Russia does not wish to
profit by that right, and precisely as in 1881 she returned Ili to
China and last year the southwestern portion of the Mukden Province,
so now she is ready to fulfill her engagements and to return to
China not only the remaining portion of the Mukden Province and
Kirin, but also the port Niuchwang, provided she receives full
assurance that after the departure of the troops the lawful
interests of Russia in these adjacent territories will be disturbed
neither by China nor by other states.
In order that she may be thus assured the Chinese Government must
give to Russia the following pledges:
- 1. That the restored territories, in particular Niuchwang
and localities on the Liao Ho, shall not be transferred to
another power, whether by way of cession, lease, concession,
or in any other form. An attempt at such a transfer Russia
would regard as a threat, and for the protection of her
interests would have recourse to the most decisive
measures.
- 2. That the organization at present existing in Mongolia
shall not be disturbed, seeing that such disturbance will
inevitably produce commotions amongst the people and that an
unquiet state of affairs along our frontier will entail very
serious and undesirable complications.
- 3. That the Chinese Government will not take a decision
with regard to the opening to foreign trade of any new
places in Manchuria and of the admission to them of consuls,
without previous communication with the imperial
administration.
- 4. That if China should have recourse to inviting
foreigners for the management of any branch of her
administration, the authority of such foreigners shall not
extend to the affairs of North China, where Russian
interests predominate. In such an event these affairs shall
be allotted to entirely separate departments and their
direction shall be entrusted to Russians; thus, for
instance, if a foreign adviser is engaged for mining
matters, his advice will not extend to the mining affairs of
Mongolia and Manchuria, for which there will in such case be
appointed a Russian adviser.
- 5. Russia will retain in her own control the existing
telegraph line between Port Arthur, Ying-kou, and Mukden for
the whole term of the existence of the Peking-Ying-kou line,
of which the above-mentioned line serves as an indispensable
prolongation.
- 6. After the transfer of Niuchwang to the Chinese
administration, the Russo-Chinese Bank will continue, as at
present, to fulfill the functions of the customs bank at the
port named.
- Finally, 7, it is understood that all rights acquired in
Manchuria by Russian subjects or establishments during the
occupation shall remain in full force after the departure of
the troops.
Further, Russia is charged with the protection of the health and
lives of the numerous inhabitants of the places traversed by the
railway. Opening free access for the movement of travelers and of
merchandise, the railway may with equal ease facilitate the
penetration into the north of infectious diseases, if there is not
established at its starting point, that is, at Ying-kou, a sound
sanitary organization and a strict watch for the appearance of
epidemic diseases. Last year the greed of a captain and the
carelessness of the customs commissioner and doctor, caused the
carrying into Manchuria and Siberia of an epidemic cholera, from
which there died many thousand people, both Russians and
Chinese.
In transferring the administration of Niuchwang to China, the Russian
Government asks that the model sanitary organization established
there by the Russian
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administration shall be preserved and that the local authorities
shall always be prepared for the struggle with epidemics. To this
end it is indispensable that the commissioner of customs and the
customs doctor should be Russian subjects, subordinate to the
Chinese customs administration. This subordination fully secures the
proper discharge of their direct obligations and the maintenance of
Chinese customs interests; but, as Russians, they will have an
interest in the work of protecting the Russian dominions from the
introduction of epidemics, which can not be expected from foreigners
of another nationality.
For the management of sanitary affairs there will be established a
permanent commission, the president of which will be the taotai and
the members of it all the consuls stationed at Ying-kou, the
before-mentioned commissioner of customs, the customs doctor, a
medical bacteriological expert, and the representative of the
Chinese Eastern Railway.
For the settlement of the details of the organization and the
functions of the commission, the taotai will consult with the
Russian consul, who has great experience in these matters.
The means for the sanitary work and for the struggle with epidemics
shall be found by the taotai. This will present no difficulty if the
existing assessment of the local merchants is Tetained, permission
for which shall be given to the taotai from Peking.
Such, honored prince and ministers, are the conditions in presence of
which the Russian Government will be convinced that its political
interests and also the interests of the health and lives of a large
population will be safeguarded in a fitting manner.
As soon as your highness and your excellencies reply with an official
note, in which in the name of His Majesty the Bogdo Khan (Emperor of
China) is expressed assent to the requests of Russia that have been
set forth, the Russian troops will be withdrawn from the Mukden
province and from Kirin, and the civil administration of Newcliwang
will be transferred to the governor of the town, the Chinese
taotai.
In the event of there being any doubts as to the interpretation of
the present note, the Russian text of it shall be considered
authoritative.
G. Plançon,
Chargé d’Affaires, State
Councilor.
[Seal of the Imperial Russian Legation at Peking.]
N.
B.—The seal is the same as that used for the visé of passports by
the Rusian legation.
No. 35. April 5, 1903.
(N. B.—The date, new style, would be April
18.)
