Mr. Hay to Mr. Storer.
Washington, February 10, 1904.
(Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Storer to consult the Austrian Government in regard to the possibility and desirability of an arrangement between the neutral powers to use their good offices with Russia and Japan for the purpose of inducing them to respect China’s neutrality and administrative entity as far as possible, limiting and localizing the area of hostile operations to minimize the disturbance and excitement of the Chinese people and the injury to commerce and to the peaceful intercourse of the world. If no opposition to this proposition is offered, he is instructed to suggest that the representatives of Austria-Hungary at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking be instructed in this sense.)