Office of the Historian

Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
St. Petersburg, July 1, 1905.
No. 99.]

Sir: I beg leave to inclose a letter from the ministry for foreign affairs dated June 30, with translation of the same. This communication was received to-day. I immediately cabled the contents to the Department and am now inclosing translation of the cable.

I have, etc.,

G. v. L. Meyer.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Meyer.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
First Department,
June 17/30, 1905.

Mr. Ambassador: I lost no time in transmitting to his Majesty the Emperor the contents of the communication dated June 14/27, in which your excellency was kind enough to inform me that the Japanese Government intends naming as plenipotentiaries for the negotiation of peace Baron Komura, minister for foreign affairs, and Mr. Takahira, Japanese minister at Washington.

My august master has expressed his satisfaction at the above-mentioned appointment and has nominated as Russian first plenipotentiary Mr. Mouravieff, secretary of state and formerly minister of justice, at present ambassador at Rome, the illness of Mr. Nelidoff, ambassador to Paris, having prevented this high mission from being conferred on him. Baron Rosen, Russian ambassador at Washington, will also take part in the negotiations; and, furthermore, the Imperial Government reserves the right to nominate other delegates for the examination of special questions which may be discussed during the course of the negotiations.

Secretary of State Mouravieff, as well as the special delegates, will not fail to report in Washington during the first days of August (new style).

Please accept, etc.,

Lamsdorff.