Mr. Hay to Mr.
McCormick.
Department of State,
Washington, April 1,
1904.
No. 92.]
Sir: I inclose copy of a note from the Japanese
minister at this capital indicating the course which, he states, the
Russian Government has agreed to follow in the matter of communicating
information to you concerning such Japanese prisoners of war as may fall
into their hands.
You will bring the matter to the attention of the Russian foreign office,
and ask that the regular communication agreed upon may be made to you
without your making request therefor in each case.
You will communicate the information received to the Japanese minister at
Berlin.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Takahira to
Mr. Hay.
Legation of Japan,
Washington, March 31,
1904.
No. 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you, under
instructions from His Imperial Majesty’s minister for foreign
affairs, that the French minister at Tokio addressed him a note on
the 16th instant requesting the Imperial Government to send him
regularly a list of the Russian prisoners of war who may fall into
the hands of the Japanese army, and in case of the death of such
prisoners to inform the French legation or consulate of the fact,
together with their names in full, rank and age, as well as the body
of troops to which they may be found to belong. Baron Komura further
desires me to say that he replied to the French minister expressing
the willingness of the Imperial Government to furnish him the
desired information every ten days, so far as practicable, provided
the Russian Government would give to the United States embassy or
consulate in Russia the similar information concerning Japanese
prisoners, and that the French minister thereupon informed the Baron
that the Russian Government had declared their willingness to give
the United States embassy every useful information concerning
Japanese prisoners as requested.
In view of the above fact, I am also instructed to request that the
United States Government will be good enough to instruct their
ambassador at St. Petersburg to approach the Russian Government in
order to obtain their promise to furnish him the required
information every ten days without awaiting his request each time,
and also to forward the information thus obtained to the Japanese
minister at Berlin, to the end that the same may be transmitted to
Japan by the latter.
I avail, etc.,
