Mr. Hay to Mr. ______.a
Washington, February 20, 1904.
Sir: After several days of conversation and correspondence with the representatives of the powers interested in Chinese affairs, the following note was sent, February 10, to the Governments of Russia, Japan, and China, and a copy of it was transmitted to all the powers signatory of the protocol of Peking, requesting each of them to make similar representations to Russia and Japan:
You will express to the minister of foreign affairs the earnest desire of the Government of the United States that in the course of the military operations which have begun between Russia and Japan the neutrality of China and in all practicable ways her administrative entity shall be respected by both parties, and that the area of hostility shall be localized and limited as much as possible, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented and the least possible loss to the commerce and peaceful intercourse of the world may be occasioned.
On the 13th of February the following answer was received from the Japanese Government, addressed to the American minister in Tokyo:
In response to your note of the 12th instant on the subject of the neutrality of China during the existing war, I beg to say that the Imperial Government, sharing with the Government of the United States in the fullest measure the desire to avoid, as far as possible, any disturbance of the orderly condition of affairs now prevailing in China, are prepared to respect the neutrality and administrative entity of China outside the regions occupied by Russia as long as Russia, making a similar engagement, fulfills in good faith the terms and conditions of such engagement.
On the 19th of February the following answer was received from the Russian Government:
The Imperial Government shares completely the desire to insure tranquillity of China; is ready to adhere to an understanding with other powers for the purpose of safeguarding the neutrality of that Empire on the following conditions:
- Firstly. China must herself strictly observe all the clauses of neutrality.
- Secondly. The Japanese Government must loyally observe the engagements entered into with the powers, as well as the principles generally recognized by the law of nations.
- Thirdly. That it is well understood that neutralization in no case can be extended to Manchuria, the territory of which, by the force of events, will serve as the field of military operations.
On the same day the Department of State sent the following telegram to the Governments of Russia and Japan, communicating its purport to the other powers interested:
The answer of the Russian Government is viewed as responsive to the proposal made by the United States as well as by the other powers, and this Government will have pleasure in communicating it forthwith to the Governments of China and Japan, each of which has already informed us of its adherence to the principles set forth in our circular proposal.
I am, sir, etc.,
- This instruction, mutatis mutandi, sent to all diplomatic representatives of the United States.↩