The Secretary of State to Ambassador Meyer.
Washington , October 23, 1905 .
The Japanese Government have appointed Colonel Kikutaro Oi (Japanese military attaché in Germany) as special commissioner to [Page 799] receive Japanese war prisoners. He is also authorized to direct matters connected with receiving any Japanese other than war prisoners who are now detained in Russia. The Japanese Government believe that Wirballen was finally decided upon as place for delivery of prisoners, as it was proposed by Russian Government through French minister at Tokyo and accepted by Japanese Government accordingly. The Japanese Government will be prepared to direct their bureau of information to deliver at Yokohama, Kobé, and Nagasaki the Russian war prisoners and others detained in Japan to the special commissioner to be appointed by Russia or to his duly authorized representative. As to those too ill or seriously wounded to stand transportation, the bureau of information will be directed, after completing general delivery of prisoners, to effect necessary procedures at hospitals attached to places for detaining prisoners, or at military and naval hospitals, for their delivery to the Russian special commissioner or his representative, with the understanding that date of delivery and other details be arranged between the director of bureau of information and the Russian special commissioner or his duly authorized representative. You are requested to bring foregoing to notice of the Russian Government, asking early answer.