Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04
THE JAPANESE CASE
Detailed Story of the Break
With Russia.
OFFICIAL PROPOSALS
BARON KoMURA's HISTORY OF
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
The Tokyo Government Anxious to
Preserve Peace, but Forced to Take
Measures for Self Defense.
OFFICIAL PROPOSALS

Measures for Self-Defense.
Copies of the speech of Baron Komura
in the Japanese house of representatives
March % last regarding the issues be-
tween Russia and Japan have been re-
ceived here and are attracting consider
able attention. Baron Komura said:
Gentlemen: 1t Is great honor to me to
make brief statement before this house
regarding the course Of negotiations be-
tween Japan and Russia from the COM
mencement to their termination. These
negotiations lasted for more than half a
year and are Of a most complicated nature.
Now I will try to briefly explain to you.
gentlemen, the main points of these nego-
tiations.
when upon the sudden outbreak in
north China of the Boxer troubles in 1900
the powers sent forces to Chill for the re-
lief of their representatives and nationals
and were taking action in harmonious CO.
operation. Russia dispatched a large army
into Manchuria, and finally took posses
sion of the whole of that province. She
repeatedly declared at the time that this
dispatch of troops was simply for sup
pressing the Chinese insurgents and was
not for the purpose of conquest; that she
was determined TO respect the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of China in Man
churia, and that consequently her occupa-
ton of that province, which was the result
of inevitable circumstances, was intended
to be merely temporary
Russia Agrees to Yield Manchuria.
Nevertheless, on more than one occa-
sion she tried to induce China to conclude
treaty of a nature tending to impair
China's sovereignty and Incompatible with
the treaty rights of the powers. Accord
ingly, on each occasion the imperial gov
eminent warned both Russia and China,
and Russia finally concluded, in April. 1902,
a convention providing for the restoration
of Manchuria. In accordance with the
stipulations of the convention, Russia COM
menced to prepare for the restoration, and,
in fact, a partial evacuation had already
been effected. when, in April last year,
there was sudden change in her attitude,
and not only were the withdrawal of her
forces from Manchuria and the restitution
of the administration to China suspended.
demanded from China. This action is be-
lieved to have been due to divided coun-
sells in the Russian government circles re-
garding the solution of the Manchurian
ancy of the party in favor of permanent
occupation.
Watching Developments.
1.-The development of affairs In Manchuria
received the most careful attention of the
imperial government. The maintenance of
the independence and territorial integrity of
Korea is of the utmost Importance to the
safety and repose of this empire and is in
fact. our traditional policy; while in case
of the absorption of Manchuria by Russia,
the separate existence of Korea would be
constantly menaced and firm establishment
of the peace in the far east would become
II ThA I'M government.
therefore having regard to the future we'll
being of the empire. deemed 1t necessary
for consolidating the peace OF the ex,
IRENE east and for securing the rights ana
interests of the empire to open as soon as
possible negotiations with Russia with
view to friendly definition OF the interest
of the two countries in Manchuria and ho-
rea. where those interests meet. and there
by to remove every cause OF fatufe cohiiicl
between Japan and Russia
..,rhe Japanese government, therefore. IN
structed their repres .ntatives at St PETERS
burg on July %, 1903, to bring their WISHES
to the attention of the Russian government
and to request their concurrence thereln;
The Russian government willingly assented
thereto and the Russian minister OF foreign
affairs announced that he mad oDtaiheo I'M
perial authority to open negotiations on tlie
subject. Accordingly, on August II ids.,
the imperial government presented 70 the
Russian government through their minister
at ST. Petersburg as the basis OF negotia-
tions PROPOSALS which were substantially
as follows:
Japanese Proposals.
81. Mutual engagement to respect the IN
dependence and territorial integrity or
China and Korea.
..2 Mutual engagement to maintain the
principle of equal opportunity for the COM
mercc and industry of all nations In emma
and Korea
ponderat!ng interests in Korea and Rus
sia's special interests in railway enter
prises In Manchuria and mutual recognltlon
of the respective rights OF Japan ana Rus
STA to take measures necessary for the
protection of the above mentioned interests
SO far as they do not conflict with the
principle of Article and Article II.
"a Recognition by Russia of the exclu-
sive right Of Japan to give advice and as
s.stance to Korea in the interests OF reform
and good government.
IS. Engagement on the part Of Russia
not to impede the eventual extension OF the
Korean railway into southern Manchuria
SO as to connect with the East China and
the Shanhaikwan-Niuchwa lines.
about ten days after the presentation of
the proposals. of which the above are the
essential points, the Russian minister for
foreign affairs suddenly suggested the
transfer of the seat of negotiations to
Tokyo. The imperial government how
ever. not only from the consideration that
facilitated by conducting them at the Rus
sian capital. but also In view of the changes
brought upon the Russian administrative
organization in Manchuria and the crea-
ton of viceroyalty of the far east were
afraid that transfer of the seat of negotia-
tons to Tokyo would not conduce to
satisfactory understanding. They accord
ingly repeatedly objected to the proposed
transfer. but the Russian minister for for
eign affairs was inslstent. assigning as the
reason for his attitude the cars contem-
plated trip abroad, &c.
again, when the imperial government
requested the Russian minister for foreign
affairs TO accept in principle our proposals
as the basis of negotiation he only agreed
to take them in conjunction with the Rus
sian counter proposals as such basis. The
imperial government. deeming 1t disadvan-
tageous to delay any longer the opening of
discussions. agreed at length to transfer
the seat of negotiations, and requested the
Russian government to present as soon as
possible its counter proposals. 1t was not
until nearly month later. the Sd of Octo-
Der. that the said counter proposals were
presented.
Russia's Counter Proposals.
I'm these counter proposals Russia, while
having no objection to engage to respect
the Independence and territorial integrity
of Korea, declined to extend the "a mo an.