Mr. Riddle to Mr. Hay.
St. Petersburg, June 15, 1903.
(Mr. Riddle reports that the Russian minister for foreign affairs requests that the minister of the United States to China communicate to the Russian minister to China the demands of the United States [Page 711] relative to localities to be opened to trade, and promises that the minister of Russia will be authorized to reply frankly to the minister of the United States and the Chinese Government what the attitude of the Russian Government is. The minister for foreign affairs states to Mr. Riddle that because of the distance, and without knowing what localities are meant, he can not blindly commit himself, as he admits there are some ports whose opening Russia would not favor before the Russian evacuation of Manchuria under satisfactory guaranties is completed.
A frank interchange of views between the two ministers at Peking is recommended by the minister for foreign affairs.)