Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
Peking , May 28, 1903 .
(Acknowledging Mr. Hay’s telegram of the 18th instant, Mr. Conger reports that the Chinese Government state in a note which he is forwarding by mail:
Recently we have received a dispatch from the Russian chargé d’affaires saying if China does not first notify our Government it must not make arrangements to open any new ports for trade in Manchuria, nor permit the establishment of foreign consulates at new ports. We refused to discuss the matter. Later Plançon called to inquire, and we replied that should it become necessary at any future time to open ports for international trade in Manchuria it would rest with China, as circumstances might require, to investigate conditions and herself open them. Now we have the statement of your excellency, but the Chinese Government is still obliged to consider commercial conditions and herself open such ports. At the present it is not convenient to mention the matter in the commercial treaty. This is not by any means an absolute refusal of the request of your country.