The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-09
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF
JAPAN'S TROUBLE WITH
RUSSIA IN THE FAR EAST
Maintenance Of Korea's Territor-
ial Integrity Necessary for
Safety of Japan.
REBUFF FROM RUSSIA
Rights of the Toxic Government
in Both Korea and Man
churia Ignored.

a.
government setting forth its position:
section lit being indispensable to the
welfare and safety Of Japan to maintain
The Independence and the territorial integ-
ritv of Korea and To safeguard her para
mount interests therein. the Japanese gov
eminent finds il impossible to view with
Indifference any action endangering the
uositiOn Of Korea, whereas Russia, nOtwith-
standing her solemn treaty with China and
her repeated assurances 10 the powers, not
only continues her occupation of Man
chdria, but has taken aggressive measures
III Korean territory. Should Manchuria be
annexed 70 Russia. the independence of
Korea would naturally be impossible The
japanese government, therefore, being de-
sirOus Of securing permanent peace for
eastern Asia, by means OF direct negOtia-
tiOns with Russia with the view of arriving
at a friendly adjustment of their mutual
interests in both ManchuTia and Korea
where their interests meet, communicated
toward the end of July, last. such de-
sire TO the Russian government and invited
its adherence. To this the Russian gov
eminent expressed a willing assent.
BASIS OF AGREEMENT.
Accordingly, on the 18th Of August the
Japanese government proposed to Russia,
Through its representative at st. Peters
burg. the basis of an agreement. which was
substantially as follows:
''First-A mutual engagement to respect
the independence and territorial integrity
OF the Chinese and Korean empires
"Sec0nd-A mutual engagement TO maln-
tain the principle of an equal opportunity
Tor the commercial industry OF all nations
with the natives of these countries.
''Third-A reciprocal recognition of ia
pans prepOnderating interests in Korea,
and that Russia has special interest in rail-
way enterprises IN Manchuria, and mu-
tual recognition Of the respective rights of
Of Japan and Russia to take measures nee
essary for the protection Of their above
mentioned interests. so far as the people
OF Article is infringed.
''FOurth-The recognition by Russia of
the exclusive rights of Japan to give advice
and assistance to Korea in the interest of
reform and good government.
"Flfth-The engagement on the part OF
Russia 10 Unimpede the ineventual extern
sion OF the Korean Railway into southern
Manchuria as to connect with eastern
China and the Shanghai Kwan-New-
Chwang lines
1T was the intention of the Japanese
government originally that a conference
should take place between the representa-
tves at st. petersburg and the Russian
authorities, so as TO facilitate progress as
much possible in reaching solution of
the situa ton, but the Russian government
absolutely refused to do so, on the plea
that the Car planned a trip abroad, and
Tor other reasons il was unavoidably de-
clded 10 conduct the negotiations at Toxic
~ was not until the Sd of October that the
Russian government presented counter pro-
pOsals, and in them she declined TO engage
IN respect to the sovereignty and territorial
integrity OF China, and stipulated the MAIN
tenance Of the principle OF equal oppOrtu-
mites Tor the commerce and Industry OF all
nations in China and requested that Japan
declare Manchuria and its littOral as being
entirely outside of her sphere and interest.
she further put several restrictions upon
Japan'S freedom of action in Korea for in
stance, while recognizing Japan's right to
dispatch troops when necessary for the
protection Of her interests in Korea, Russia
refused 10 allow her To use any portion Of
Korean territory for strategical purposes.
IN fact, Russia went SO far as to propose
20 establish neutral zone in Korean terri
tory north of the thirty-ninth parallel. The
Japanese government utterly failed to see
why Russia, which pFOfeSsed no intention
OF absorbing Manchuria. should be disin-
IN complete harmony with her own repeat
odly declared principle respecting the SOW
ereignty and territorial integrity of China.
Furthermore this refusal OF the Russian
government impressed the Japanese gov
eminent all the more with the necessity of
the insertion of a clause to the effect that
Japan has important commercial interests
in Manchuria and entertains no small
hopes OF their further development, and
that politically Japan has even interest
there BY reason OF its relation to Korea.
20 that she would not possibly recognize
Manchuria as being entirely outside her
sphere of interests.
PROPOSAL REJECTED.
''These reasons decided Japan to abso-
lutely reject the Russian proposal. The
Japanese government explained the above
views and at the same time introduced
other necessary amendments in the Rus
sian cOunter-propOsaL They further pro-
posed with regard to a neutral zone that
II one was 10 be created it should be eS-
tablished on both sides of the boundary line
between Manchuria and Korea with equal
width. say, fifty kilometers. After repeat
ing discussions at Toxic, the japanese gov
eminent finally presented the Russian gov
eminent their definite amendment on the
18th Of October. The Japanese government
frequently urged the Russian government
Tor a reply.
In that reply Russia suppressed clauses
relating to Manchuria so as to make the
proposed convention apply entirely to ko-
Tea and maintained its original demand In
regard 10 the unemployment OF Korean
territory for stragetical purposes as well
as a neutral zone, but the exclusion OF
Manchuria from the proposed convention
being contrary to the original object or the
negotiations which was TO remove causes
OF conflict between the two countries and
By a friendly arrangement OF their IN
terests behind MancEuria and Korea. The
Japanese government asked the Russian
government to reconsider the question md
asaln proposed the removal of the restrlc-
ton regarding the use of Korean terri
tory and the entire suppression OF the
neutral zone on the ground that If Russia
was opposed to the establishment OF one
In Manchuria it should not establish one
In Korea
THE last reply OF Russia was received al
Toxic on the 9th of January. In this reply
i Is true, Russia proposed to agree TO IN
sert the following clause in the proposed
agreement: The recognition by Japan OF
Manchuria and its lttOral as outside hei
sphere and interest, while Russia, wlthll
the limits of that province, would not I'M
pede Japan or any other power in the en-.
loyment OF rights and privileges acquired
oy them under existing treaties with emma
exclusive of the establishment OF the set.
uement.' but this was proposed to be agreed
upon only upon conditions maintaining th'
causes regarding a neutral zone IN korean
territory and the unemployment OF 10
Iedn territory for Strategtcal purposes. tht
conditions whereof were impossible or ia
pan S accepting had already been fully eX
plalned 10 them. II should further be OBJ
served that no mention was made at all o.
lhe territorial integrity of China in Man
Shurld. and il must be self-eVident TO every
gooy that the engagement now proposed DA
russia would be impractical in value Sc
long as II was unaccOmpanied by definite
stipulation regarding the territorial integ
Tlty OF China in Manchuria. since treaty
rights are only cOeXistirg with sovereignty
delay in cable service prevented com
pietl0a of the statement when the Journa