Mr. Hay to Mr. Townsend.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

(Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Townsend to consult the Belgian 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 Belgium at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking be instructed in this sense.)