The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
Severe Indictment of the Mikado's
Government for It's Action
in Korea.
NEUTRALITY VIOLATED
When Troops Were Landed in the
Hermit Kingdom After Its
Proclamation.
SEIZURE OF STEAMERS
Before Declaration of War Held
to. Have Been Akin to an
Act of Piracy.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 12.-The fol-
lowing reply. inspired by the Foreign OF
flee, to Japan's rejoinder to the Russian
protest against the violation of Korean neu-
trality may be accepted as official:
"Japan's argument that she was justified
in landing troops in Korea before the dec
laration of war because she had Korea's
permission. and also that these troops ar
rived in Korea after the existence of a
state Of war; is without value, as Korea,
in January, promulgated her neutrality TO
the powers, which received 4 it warmly, Great
Britain even officially conveying expressions
of gratitude to the Korean government
Therefore, no state of war gave the Japan
csc the right to violate her neutrality by
landing troops in her territory. Even the
consent of Korea, though extorted by the
Japanese, is without force, from the fact
that the dispatch of troops was not only
before the war, but before the breaking off
of diplomatic relations, as clearly estab-
lshed, and. indeed, acknowledged by the
japanese themselves.
'Japan's contention in defense of the at
tack on the Russian ships at Chemulpo,
that the port was not neutral Feb. 9, is
false again because Korea had proclaimed
her neutrality.
"Japan's denial of malicious interference
with the transmission of Russian tele-
grams over the Danish cable cannot be suS-
tanned. a telegram from Baron De Rosen,
then Russian minister to Japan, at Toxic,
sent from St. Petersburg, Feb. 4, was not
delivered till the morning of Feb. Z. That
delay did not occur on the Siberian line, as
shown by the fact that a reply to a tele-
gram from Viceroy Alexieff, sent at the
same time, was received the same day.
Therefore, it is conclusive that the De
RoSen telegram was held by the japanese
and not delivered for two DAYS.
Communication with NJ. Pavloff, then
Russian minister to Korea, by the Korean
telegraph ceased in the middle of January.
As the Koreans were enjoying friendly re-
lations with Russia there is good ground
for believing that the interruption was due
to the Japanese. Thereafter NJ. PaVloff
used a mail steamer or a special warship
to communicate with Port Arthur. TIL min
lister of Russia at Seoul on Feb. 8, therefore,
knew nothing of the diplomatic rupture.
Japan pleads that the charge against
her seizure of Russian merchantmen be-
fore the declaration Of war cannot lie
after the establishment of prize courts.
Their seizure before the declaration of war
being piracy is not defensible by the es-
adjustment of prize courts, which cannot
exist before a declaration of war. The
steamer Russia was seized in the waters
Of southern Korea, even before NJ. Kurino
had presented his note here"
The reply concludes: Our information re-
garding Japan's announcement that in
future Korea would be under her admins.
tration came from Pavloff and also from
the representative of a friendly power al
Seoul. Japan's denial consequently is fruit
less, as also is the attempt to refute our
statement that the Russian minister and
consul at Seoul were told to leave. We
had conclusive proof in st. Petersburg Feb
10 that the French minister at Seoul haC
officially notified our representatives that
the japanese government had intimate6
that they should leave and that the japanese
had occupied territory in Korea. NJ. Pavlof
was unable to notify our consul at Fusan
his telegram being refused at the tele-
graph office"