Mr. McCormick to
Mr. Hay.
American Embassy,
St.
Petersburg, April 30,
1904.
No. 127.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s instructions
No. 96, of the 11th instant, I have the honor to include a translation
of a note from the ministry for foreign affairs on the subject of the
Japanese press boat Hanyei Maru and further
stating that the Japanese servants of Messrs. Washburn and Little have
been set free.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Obolensky
to Mr. McCormick.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
First Department, April 15/28, 1904.
Mr. Ambassador: In reply to the note which
your excellency addressed to me on the 11th instant, relating to the
arrest of the Japanese who were on board the press boat Hanyei Maru, I have the honor to state that,
according to information furnished me by the imperial lieutenant of
the Far East, the said boat was seized at the islands of Miaodao,
and not at Port Arthur, on account of evident proof of hostile
intentions toward the Russian authorities. The Japanese subjects who
were on board the said vessel, some of whom were dressed as Chinese,
were taken to Port Arthur and placed in the hands of the judicial
authorities for examination.
I may add that the Japanese servants in the employ of Messrs. Little
and Washburn were set free at the beginning of April.
Please accept, etc.,
