The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-09
JAP GOVERNMENT ISSUES AN ANSWER Replies to Charges Made from
 St. Petersburg STATEMENTS ARE UNTRUE Denies That She Committed Acts Which Are Contrary to Inter-
 national Law Before Hos
 tlIlties Began.
STATEMENTS ARE UNTRUE

minister Is authorized by his government to give to the press the following state- ment received on the 4th instant:
 The Japanese imperial government are given to understand that the Russian gov ernment has recently addressed a note to the powers in which the government of Japan Japan is charged with having committed certain acts in Korea which are considered by Russia in violation of international law and all future orders and declaration by the Korean govern ment are declared on that account to be invalid. The imperial government does not find 1t necessary in the present in- stance to concern themselves In any way with the views, opinions or declarations with the imperial Russian government, but they believe 1t to be their right and duties to correct fnisstatements of facts, which if permitted to remain uncontra- dicted might give rise to incorrect infer ences and conclusions on the part of neu- tral powers
 Accordingly the government of Japan makes the following statement relating to the five acts which in the note referred to are to be fully proved and confirmed: Government Answers Charges. '1. It Is charged under this heading that before the opening of hostilities against Russia, Japan landed troops in the independent empire of Korea which had declared its neutrality
 ''The imperial government admits that Japanese troops landed in Korea before declaration of war was issued, ,. but not before state of war actually existed be- tween Japan and Russia The maintenance of independence and territorial integrity of Korea is one of the objects of the war and the dispatch of troops to the menaced territory was a matter of right and neces- sity which had the distinction between the landing of Japanese troops In Korea under the actual circumstances of the l case and the sending of a large body of Russian troops to Manchuria without the consent of China as was done by Russia while peaceful negotiations were in pro gress.
 "2. Under the heading 1t is alleged that Japan with a division of the Japanese fleet made a sudden attack on the Sth inst, that Is three days iefore the decla- ration of war, on two Russian warships which were in the neutral port of Chemupo and whose commanders had not been
 
 the Japanese maliciously stopped the de- livery of Russian telegrams by the Danish cables and destroyed the Korean tele- graphic communication"
 Allegations Are Untrue. The imperial government declare that allegations under this heading are untrue. The imperial government did not stop the deivefy of Russian telegrams by the Dan sh cable, nor did they destroy the Ko- rean governments telegraphic communica- ton.
 Regarding the alleged sudden attack of February on two Russian men of war in the port of Chemulpo, it is only neces- sary to say that state of war existed and that Korea having given her consent to the landing of Japanese troops at Chemulpo, the harbor of Chemulpo there by ceased to be neutral at least between the belligerents.
 t'3. It is charged under this heading that in spite of existing laws shortly before the opening of hostilities the Japanese captured as prizes of war the Russian merchantmen which wer in the neutral ports of Korea.
 "The imperial government has establish ed A prize court with full authority to pronounce finally on the question Of the legality of the seizures of merchant ves- sels. Accordingly 1t would be manifestly  to make any statement regarding the as- sertion under this heading
 "A Ii is asserted under this number that Japan declared to the emperor or Korea, through the Japanese minister at | Seou. that Korea would be henceforth un- der Japanese administration and warned his majety that In case Of non-compn- ance Japanese troops would occupy the place.
 
 Wholly Without Foundation. "The imperial government declares the charge under this number to be apsolute- ly and wholly without foundation In fact. .5. Under this heading 1t IS charged that the Japanese government 1orwaroeo a summons through the French minister to the Russian representative at the court of the emperor of Korea to leave the country with the staff of the Russian legation and staff
 s"rhe Japanese deny the accuracy of this statement. No demand, either direct or Indirect. as adopted by the Japanese gov ernment asking the Russian minister 10 retire from Korea
 ssrhe French charge daffairs called on the Japanese minister at Seoul and in- formed him verbally as he did afterward in writing that 1t was the desire Of the Russian minister to leave Korea, and asked the opinion of the Japanese minis ter with reference to the matter. The Japan minister replied that If the Rus sian minister would withdraw in peace full manner. taking with him his staff and legation guard, he would be protected fully by Japanese troops. He did so withdraw of his own free will on the 18th of February and an escort of Jap anese soldiers was furnished him as far as Chemulpo. In this connection 1t may be remarked that the Russian consul at Fusan remained at his post as late as February 2s It is reported that he was compelled to stay so long in the absence of instructions which the Russian min ister apparently did not dare to give him before his own departure. When 1t was known that necessary instructions had at last reached the Russian consul and that he desired to leave Fusan as soon as pos sible the Japanese consul at the same port offered him every facility for his departure to Shanghai through Japan" | SENSATIONS BROUGHT