The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-10
RUSSIA MAKES OFFICIAL
STATEMENT REGARDING
RUPTURE OF RELATIONS
Places the Entire Blame of Cutting
OF Friendly Negotiations
on Japan.
PLAYING FOR SYMPATHY
NOW Says She Was Ready to Con
cede japan Almost Anything
III Korea.

ST PETERSBURG, Feb. "a lengthy
oIheial communication issued to-day gives
'he Russian account of the negotiations
Mhieh led to the rupture OF Russians with
Japan.
Las year" says this Foreign office
note the Toxic Cabinet, under the pre-
text OF establishing the balance of power
and more settled order Of things on the
shores Of the Pacific. submitted to the i'm
perial government a proposal for a revi-
sion OF the existing treaties with Korea
Russia consented and Viceroy AIexieff was
Tharged to draw up a project for new
understanding with Japan in cooperation
with the Russian minister at Toxic. who
was lntrusted with the negotiations with
fhe Japanese government Although the
exchange of views with the Toxic Cabinet
on this subject We're Of a friendly char
acter, Japanese social circles and the local
and foreign press attempted in every way
10 produce warlike ferment among the
japanese and to drive the government into
an armed conflict with Russia. Under the
influence thereof the Toxic Cabinet began
10 formulate greater and greater demands
In the negotiations. at the same time TAX
Ing most extensive measures to make the
country ready for war. All these circum-
stances could not, of course. disturb Rus
sia's equanimity. but they induced her to
also take military and naval measures
Nevertheless, to preserve peace in the far
East Russia, so far as her incontestable
rights and interests permitted, gave the
necessary attention to the demands Of Toxic
Cabinet and declared herself ready to
recognize Japan's privileged commercial
anu economic position in the Korean
peninsula, with the concession of the right
10 protect IT by military force IN the event
OF disturbances in that country. At the
same time, while vigorously observing the
fundamental principle of her policy re-
Sard1nS Korea, whose independence and in
tegrlty were guaranteed by previous M
derstandings with Japan and by treaties
with other powers, Russia insisted on three
points:
/. on a mutual and conditional guarantee
OF this principle
?. On an undertaking to use no part of
Korea Tor strategic purpose as the au-
thOrizaton of such action on the part OF
any foreign power was directly opposed to
The principle of independence of Korea.
). On the preservation of the full free
dom Of navigation of the straits of Korea
COULD NOT SATISFY JAPAN.
The project elaborated in this sense did
not satisfy the japanese government, which
in its last proposals not only declined to
accept the conditions which appeared as
the guarantee Of the independence of
Korea, but also began at the same time to
insist on provisions to be incorporated in a
project regarding the question of Man
churia. Such demands on the part of Japan
naturally We're inadmissible, the question
Of Russia's position in Manchuria, concern
ing in the first place China. but also all the
powers having commercial interests in
China. The imperial government therefore.
saw absolutely no reason to include in a
special treaty with Japan regarding Korean
affairs any provisions concerning territory
occupied by Russian troops The imperial
government, however, did not refuse so
long as the occupation of Manchuria lasts
to recognize both the sovereignty of the
Emperor of China in Manchuria and also
the rights acquired there by other powers
through treaties with China. A declaration
to this effect had also already been made
TO the foreign cabinets. In view of this
the imperial government, after charging
reply to the last proposal OF Japan, was
justified in expecting the Toxic Cabinet to
take into account the consideration set forth
above and that it would appreciate the wish
manifested by Russia TO come to a peace
full understanding with Japan. Instead of
this the japanese government, not even
awaiting this reply, decided to break off
negotiations and to suspend diplomatic rela-
tons. The imperial government while lay
ing on Japan the full responsibility for any
consequences of such course of action,
will await the development of events and
the moment ii becomes necessary will take
the most decisive measures for the protec-
tiOn Of its rights and interests in the far
East