Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1905

Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State.

American Legation,
Peking, March 9, 1905.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department instruction of January 24^b inclosing copies of a print of a recent correspondence between the Russian ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State, as well as the instructions sent to the American minister at Peking regarding the observance of neutrality by China and the reply of the Chinese Government.

In compliance, this correspondence has been communicated to the Government of China, as shown by the inclosures herewith.

I have, etc.,

John Gardner Coolidge.

[Inclosure 1.]

Chargé Coolidge to Prince Ch’ing.

American Legation,
Peking, March 6, 1905.

Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to state that I have this day received from the Department of State a print of a recent correspondence between the Russian ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State, concerning the observance of neutrality by China in the present war, together with the instructions sent to the American minister at Peking on the subject and the reply of the Chinese Government.

Having been instructed to transmit a copy of the same to your imperial highnesses government, I have the honor to inclose one herein, and at the same time I take the opportunity to renew, etc.,

John Gardner Coolidge.

[Inclosure 2.]

Prince Ch’ing to Chargé Coolidge.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 7th instant of your excellency’s dispatch stating that you had received a letter from the Secretary of State directing you to send me a copy of the recent correspondence between the Russian ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State, concerning the observance of neutrality by China in the present war, together with the instructions sent to the American minister at Peking on the subject and the reply of the Chinese Government.

In this matter of looking out for the general interest your honorable government is controlled by a motive of justice and China is enabled to maintain strictly her neutrality, besides receiving the opportunity to make a clear statement of all the facts in the case. We, prince and ministers, are indeed grateful and will remember the favor.

I have the honor to state that the copy of the correspondence which you inclosed has been put upon record, and this reply is sent to your excellency with the request that you will transmit the information to the Secretary of State and extend to him our thanks.

A necessary dispatch.

XXXI year, 2d moon, 6th day (March 11, 1905).

[seal.]

1. See circular instruction of March 24, 1905, p. 5.