Bisbee daily review., 1904-02-14
Minister Kurino
 Makes Statement
INDEPENDENCE OF KOREAN EM. FIRE ABSOLUTELY ESSEN
 HAL.
Russian Government Rejected Propo- ssIs-Deciined to Enter Into Agree n1ent to Respect china's Territorial Integrity in Menchurla.


 The following Is the text of M. Ku
 rino's statement of February 6 to th,
 foreign office:
 The independence and territOria
 integrity of the Korean empire beinf regarded by the Japanese government
 as absolutely essential to their owr eountry's security and reposc. they cannot view with indifference any ac ton tending to render the position of Korea insecure. The Russian govern ment has suceessively rejected Japan's Trcposals regarding Korea. the adop- | ton of which the Japanese govern ! inent regards as indispensable 10 as suring the independence and territo- | rial integrity of the Korean empi e and to safeguarding Japan's prepcn- derating interests in the peninsula. This attitude on the part of the Rus sian government, coupled with their successive refusals to enter into an en. Gagement 10 respect China's territo- rial integrity in Manchuria, which is seriously manaced by Russia's contin- ued occupation of that province. not withsianding her treaty agreements with China and her repeated assur- ances to the other powers having in- terests n that region. has rendered it necessary fer the Japanese govern mert 10 seriously consider what meas ures Of self-defense they are called up on to take in the presence of delay on the part of the Russian government in connection with the present negotia- tions which have been largely unex- plained. and of their naval and mill tary activity, which it is difficult to reconcile with an entirely pacific aim In the pending negotiations the Japan csc government: has exercised a degree of forbearance which they believe af- foros abundant proof of their loyal de sire to remove from the relations be tween Japan and Russia every cause fer future misunderstanding but find ing in their efforts 10 prospect of se- curing from the Russian government any adhesion either to Japan's moder- ate and unselfisb proposals or to any other proposals likely to establish firm and lasting peace in the Far East | the Japanese government has now no other alternative than to terminate 1 the present futile negtiations. Tn adopting this course the Japanese l government reserves to themselves the 1 right 10 take such independent action l as they may deem best to consolic ate 1 and defend Japan's menaced position. | as well as to protect her established 1 rights and legitimate interests. The Japanese government, having exhaust l ed in vain every means of conciliation 1 with view to removing from the re- ] lations of the two countries every 1 cause for future complication and finding that their just representations and moderate and unselish proposals 1 made in the interest of permanent peace in the Far East were not receiy- ipg from the Russian government the consideration which is their due have resolved to sever their diplomatic re- lations with the Russian government, which, for the reascn named, have ceased to possess value"
 At the Japanese legation here this as regarded as tantamount to a de claration of war