Mr. Hay to Mr. Porter.
Washington, February 8, 1904.
(Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Porter to consult the minister for foreign affairs in regard to the possibility and desirability of neutral powers concurrently using good offices with Russia and Japan (in case a state of war should unfortunately be created), to induce them to respect the neutrality of China and in all practicable ways her administrative entity, to localize and limit as much as possible the area of hostilities, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented and the least possible loss to the commerce and the peaceful intercourse of the world may be occasioned. If this proposition is acceptable, suggest that instructions be sent to the French representatives at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking. All the signatories of the protocol of Peking will then be consulted.)