Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay.
St. Petersburg, May 6, 1904.
(Mr. McCormick reports that the American commercial agent at Vladivostok has informed him that on request, and in order to better protect the Japanese consular buildings, he has given charge of them to the port admiral, the president of the local Red Cross association; that after removal and storage of the furniture the association has improved the grounds and has renovated the houses for the use of patients and Red Cross nurses. Mr. McCormick informed him that he should have notified the embassy before taking this step, so that consent and approval of the Jananese Government could have been obtained, and added that it is believed that the same would have been cheerfully given.)