The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-13
GERMAN AMBASSADOR
WAS FIRST TO SUGGEST
SENDING POWERS NOTE
Acting Under Instructions from
Berlin, He Laid Matter Before
the President.
STEP TAKEN BEFORE WAR
Germany Would Have Sent the
Note Herself if This Country
Had Declined.
STEP TAKEN BEFORE WAR

WASHINGTON, Feb. ITO Russia and
Japan the Washington government sug-
gests the propriety of limiting hostilites
within as small an area as possible and Of
respecting the neutrality and administra-
tive entity of China. that Chirr may be
free from disturbances and foreign inter-
ests there from menace"
This. the Associated Press is enabled to
give as the substance of the note addressed
by Secretary Hay on Feb. 10 to the St
Petersburg and Toxic governments. On
Feb. s. in a note TO GERMANY Great Britain
and France, Mr.. Hay invited those powers
concurrently TO address Russia and Japan
with the same suggestion, and on Feb. II
this invitation was extended to Italy, Aus
tria-Hungary. the Netherlands. Denmark.
Spain and Belgium.
Germany was the first to respond with
a prompt acceptance of the invitation and
the promise that she would Immediately
address the two combatants. Great Britain
was heard from next, expressing adherence
TO the principle laid down In the note but
Withholding formal acceptance pend
ing an answer TO an inquiry wheth-
the administrative entity of
China involved Manchuria Japan was
heard from quickly with the answer
that she could act readily on the sugges-
ton of the United States if similar prom
Use could be obtained from Russia. Italy,
Hungary and the Netherlands ex-
pressed sympathy with the idea and prom
ised an answer after consultation with
other powers. There is reason to believe
that Spain and Belgium also will accept
the invitation. Russia thus far has been
silent and the attitude of France is one of
hesitation. This is the Situa ton tonight.
Meantime il is learned that Germany is adj
dressing the conlbatants with note in sub
stance the sarIe that of Secretary Hay.
GREAT BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE
Regarding the attitude of Great Britain
it has been matter of Some regret to the
officials here that as the principle is one
which the British government has stood in
the past so stawartly for, it should hold
up formal acceptance of the invitation I'M
til it has learned further details. On the
highest authority it can be stated that there
are no details to the secretarys note as it
could be manifestly impossible TO hope for
concurrent action by many powers upon
any but the most general lines
That the officials of the Washington gov
eminent have had in mind the neutrality
OF Manchuria is declared on the face of it
TO be absurd Manchuria is recognized by
lnlS government WIN Korea 10 De the nat
ural theater of the war and for this reason
primarily is the suggestion made that hos
tilities be restricted.
A high official of the administration has
given these details of the diplomatic steps
which led up to the issuance of Secretary
Hays note: ION Feb. Baron Won Stern
berg, the German ambassador, under in
structions from Berlin called at the White
House and laid before the President this
proposition: That the powers urge on Rus
STA and Japan the expediency of preserving
the peace of mind of the Chinese court and
of respecting the neutrality and entity of the
administration of China. The German gov
ernment invited the United States as the
power possessing the least political interest
!F European and far Eastern affairs TO is
sue the invitations; in the event however,
that this was not practicable Germany ex-
pressed her willingness to take the initia-
tive
The German ambassador called again the
day following, Sunday, for a further con-
ference with the President. to whom the
idea at once appealed as exceedingly prac-
ticable and worthy of execution. Secretary
Hay arrived at Washington that night and
had a conference with the President i'm
medately after his arrival.
CALLED FOR CONFERENCE.
1.-The next morning the German ambas-
sador called at the secretary's residence
for a conference. 1t was then decided
that probably the invitation could be is
sued more advantageously by this govern
ment, and the notes TO the peace and COM
Blatant powers were that day framed, those
to Germany. France and Great Britain be-
ing cabled that night.
Germany made this proposition to the
United States without consultation with
the other powers. 1t is said that Russia
had no knowledge in advance of Germany s
intention to take this step. 1t should be
remembered that at the time the note was
issued there was no official information
that hostilities had actually begun. This
fact necessitated a slight changing in the
wording. of the invitation to the other
powers"
In diplomatic circles the fact that Ger
many and the United States took the lead
concurrently in this important diploma tic
move is regarded having great signif-
canoe. Both in official and diplomatic cir
Giles heretofore the belief has been general
that Germany had a secret understa nding
with Russia in the far east, but il was said
tonight that this government is now con-
WINGED of the sincerity of Germany's in
sistence all along that her interests in the
far East were largely commercial and that
she wished the maintenance of the integ-
rity of China.