Office of the Historian

Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, March 20, 1903.
No. 1242.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy and translation, handed me by the Russian chargé d’affaires, of the regulations issued by the Russian Government for the establishment of foreign consuls at Dalny. Mr. Langhorne passed through here on his way to take up the post of commercial agent, and I took occasion to place a copy in his hands.

I have, etc.,

E. H. Conger.
[Page 85]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
St. Petersburg, January 30, 1903.
No. 391.]

In organizing the administration of the territory of Kwangtung, leased by China to Russia, the Imperial Government has taken into consideration the question of the institution of foreign consulates at Dalny (Talienwan).

The Imperial Government has decided to admit the presence of consular representatives of the powers in the aforesaid city on the following terms:

The exequatur required for the assumption of functions by the representatives in question must be asked for, in the ordinary way, through the foreign office at St. Petersburg. The jurisdiction of these representatives extends throughout the whole territory of Kwangtung, to the exclusion of Port Arthur and other fortified points, which will be designated by the local military authorities.

Considering that Russian legislation is enforced throughout the said territory and that Russian tribunals are established there, foreign consuls at Dalny will have no rights and prerogatives beyond those which are accorded to them throughout the Russian Empire. In the interests of good administration of affairs, these consuls will deal directly with the administrative authorities of the territory in all questions falling within their province.

No consular representative of the powers, excepting the one established at Dalny, shall be entitled to intervene in the affairs of his nationals in the territory referred to.