The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-24
RUSSIA GIVES
JAPAN A ROAST
Accuses Her Of Breach Of In
ternatiORaI Law
ENTERS VIGOROUS PROTEST
Lamsdorff objects to Having the Fleet
Attacked So Suddenly and to
the Landing of Troops
In Korea.
ENTERS VIGOROUS PROTEST

st. Petersburg, February 25.-Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff yesterday sent the
following circular to Russian representa-
tives abroad:
"Since the rupture of the negotiations
between Russia and Japan, the attitude
of the Toxic cabinet has constituted open
violation of all customary laws governing
the mutual relations of civilized nations.
without specifying each particular viola
tion of these laws on the part of Japan,
the imperial government considers 1t nee
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
1.-THE independence and integrity of
Korea, as a fully Independent power, has
been fully recognized by all the powers
and the inviolabiity of this fundamental
principle was confirmed by article of
the Simonesld treaty, and by the agree
ment especially concluded for this pur-
pose between Japan and Great Britain
on January 80, 1902, as well as by the
Franco Russian declaration of March 16,
1902.
Declared His Neutrality.
THE emperor of Korea, foreseeing the
danger of a possible conflict between Rus
sia and Japan, addressing early in Janu-
ary 1904 note to all the powers de-
claring his determination to preserve the
strictest neutrality. This declaration was,
received with satisfaction by the powers,
and it was ratified by Russia. According
to the Russian minister to Korea, the
British government charged the British
diplomatic representative at Seoul to
present an official note to the emperor
of Korea, thanking him for his declara-
tion of neutrality
In disregard of all these facts, In spite
of all treaties in spite of Its obligations,
and in violation of the fundamental inter-
national law, it is proved by exact and
fully confirmed facts that the Japanese
government:
Landed Troops in Korea.
Il Before the opening of hostilities
against Russia, landed its troops in the
Independent empire of Korea, which had
declared its neutrality;
20 With a division of its fleet, 1t made
sudden attack on February 8, that is,
three days prior to the declaration Of
trail port of Chemulpo. The commanders
of these ships had not been notified of the
severance of diplomatic relations, as the
Japanese maliciously stopped the deliv-
cry of Russian kilograms by the Danish
cable. and destroyed telegraphic commu-
nication of the Korean government. The
details of this dastardly attack are pub
lished in an official telegram from tho
Russian minister at Seoul.
Captured Merchant Vessels.
49, In spite of international laws above
mentioned, and shortly before the OPEN
ing of hostilities, the Japanese captured
as prizes Of war certain Russian mer-
chant ships in neutral ports of Korea.
.Fourth Japan declared to the emperor
of Korea, though the Japanese minister
at Seoul that Korea would henceforth be
Under Japanese administration, and she
warned the emperor that In case of his
noncompliance, Japanese troops would oc-
cupy the palace.
Fifth. Through the French minister at
Seoul. she summoned the Russian repre-
sentative at the Korean court to leave the
country with the staffs of the Russian le-
cation consulate.
Protest Is Lodged.
s'Recognizing that all the above facts
constitute a fragrant breach of internat-
ional law, the imperial government con-
siders it 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,
valuing the principles which guarantee
their relations, will agree with the Rus
sian attitude
"At the same time the imperial govern
ment considers 1t necessary to issue
timely warning. that owing to Japan's IL
legal assumption of power in Korea, the
government declares all orders and de-
clarations which may be issued on the
part of the Korean government to be in
valid.
II beg YOU to communicate this docu-
ment to the governments to which you
are accredited. "LAMSDORFF."