The Russian Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, January 13, 1905.
At the beginning of the war, being guided by humane considerations, the Imperial Government agreed to the proposition of the Washington Cabinet, having in view the localization of the military operations and the neutralization of the Chinese territory, and it made its decision known to the powers by circular telegram of February 5/18 of last year. As the essential conditions of said neutralization, Russia had laid down a strict observation on the part of China of the duties imposed by neutrality, as well as an honest attitude on the part of Japan with regard to this engagement, which was undertaken in principle.
An experience of eleven months, which have elapsed since the beginning of the war, has demonstrated in an obvious manner that China was neither capable nor desirous of living up to her pledges.
Without mentioning incidents, such as that of the torpedo boat Ryeshitelni, it would be easy to cite a whole series of cases where the duties imposed by neutrality have been violated by China to the benefit of Japan. Thus it has been ascertained many times that bands of hoonhoozes (Hunghutse) operating on neutral territory were commanded by Japanese officers, just as whole detachments of these hoonhoozes have been enrolled in the Japanese army and are in the pay of the Tokyo Government, while Japanese instructors are constantly admitted among the Chinese troops stationed along the northern boundary of the Province of Chile.
It has been established, moreover, that since the beginning of the campaign the Japanese have been using the Miao-Dao Islands as a basis for their naval operations; that they import into Dalny, without hindrance, a great quantity of contraband of war coming from Chefoo and other ports on the Chinese coast, and that the government shops of Hanian (Hanyang) furnished cast iron to the Japanese army.
To all the representations and protests of the Imperial Government on occasions of this kind the Chinese ministers confined themselves to giving vague promises or to answering evasively.
Reports recently received indicate that the Chinese are no longer content with violations of neutrality of the character aforementioned, and that they are making serious preparations with the apparent intention of taking an active part in the military operations. A feverish excitement, dangerous to all whites alike, reigns among the Chinese people, and is being constantly fomented.
The Imperial Government finds it impossible not to draw the attention of the powers to the facts above-mentioned, which demonstrate clearly that their efforts toward assuring the neutrality of China have not been successful, owing to the manner of acting of the Japanese and to their intimidating pressure on the Peking Government.
[Page 758]Russia would, therefore, in case the present situation should continue, be obliged to consider the said neutrality from the standpoint of her own interests.