Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-24
Russian Foreign Minister Accuses
Japan of Violating Law.

vdpdu Oh v 1OldClug Law.
A cablegram FROM, ST., Petersburg last
night says:
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff yesterday
sent the following circular to Russian rep
resentatives abroad: Since the rupture of
the negotiations between Russia and ia
pan. the attitude Of the Tokyo cabinet has
constituted open violation Of all customary
laws governing the mutual relations of
Civilized nations ie4 II, ax,.,l =.
Without specifying each particular vio-
lation Of these lawsAnthe part Of Japan,
the imperial government considers it nec-
essary to draw the most serious attention
of the powers to the acts of violence COM
mitted by the Japanese government with
respect to Korea. The independence and
integrity of Korea, as fully Independent
empire. has been fully recognized by all
the powers, and the inviolability Of this
fundamental principle was confirmed by
article one of the Simoneseki treaty, and
by the agreement especially concluded for
this purpose between Japan and Great
Britain on January 80, 1902 as well as by
the Franco-Russian declaration of March
16, 1902"
After passing upon the declaration of
Korea for. neutrality, he recounts the bat
tie off Chemulpo He then says:
Recognising that all the above facts
constitute a fragrant breach of interna-
tional law. the imperial government con-
siders 1t to be its duty to lodge protest
with all the powers against this procedure
of the Japanese government. and 1t is
firmly convinced that all the powers, valu-
ing the principles which guarantee their
relations. will agree with the Russian at
titude. At the same time the imperial
government considers 1T necessary to issue
timely warning that, owing TO Japan's
illegal assumption of power in Korea, the
government declares all orders and decla-
rations which may be issued on the part of
the Korean government to be invalid"
Sympathy From France.
A cablegram from Paris last night says:
Russia has the sympathetic support OF
France in the formers representation to
the powers that Japan was guilty of vio-
lation of international law in the attacks
on the Russian .warships at Port Arthur
and Chemulpo before the declaration of
war. No intention exists in official circles
to take up the Russian note ON the subject
with the view of pressing action by the
powers, and 1t is said that nothing effec-
tive could be done in this direction. France
was satisfied from the first of the unjusti-
liability of the Japanese action, and is
anxious that the other powers appreciate
the enormity of the osfense.
Japan Has No Korean Assent.
At the Korean legation at Paris it was
said that Korea had declared her neu-
trality from the outset and that, therefore
and proposed marching through Korea on
their way to. Manchuria. 1t was not with
Korea's assent. but because she was un-
able to prevent it. .The legation officials
added that the $4,000 stand OF arms recent
Nv ordered by Korea from France would re-
main at Hong Kong for the present, in
order that they might not be seized by the
Japanese. - seis 50 $, -ssi5siss
Announced. From Seoul.
4 II
February 16. that the Korean government
had granted to Japah the right to send
troops through Korea. but 1t is quite likely
that this informa tionsiias,n not yet officially
reached the Korean. legation in Paris, ID,
Extremely Cold, Weather.
cabiegram from ST. Petersburg last
night says: u hiHi
The newspapers ef'sRort Arthur. dated
February Preached ST. Petersburg today.
The cold is exceedingly Severe. Thirty-six
degrees below FahrsnheIt was reported to-
day at Irkutsk and other places, The stories
of sufferings of the troops at the crossing
are persistent Some reports say six hun
dred men were frozen. hut they lack COM
firmation, official onaotherwise.
To Accompany Russian Army.
Military men desiring to accompany the
Russian army have received formal notice
that they can proceed when convenient.
but it is added that, accommodations and
commissariat supplies cannot be guaran-
teed before March 10. No authorizations
have yet been issued to war correspondents
and 1t is improbable that anything in this
direction will be done TIL the concentration
of troops is completed.
Chinese Note on Neutrality.
The Chinese minister at St. Petersburg
has presented to the foreign Office a note,
similar In tenor to that handed to the gov
eminent at Tokyo. regarding China's neu-
trality. and the respect to be paid to the
imperial to,nbs It IL understood that Rus
STA has not made a specific reply, but COM
municated to the minister copy Of her