The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-04-21


had done in the preceding correspond
ence, that she did not intend to yield
anything to Japan, but intended that
Japan should yield everything to her.
Baron Komura to Mr. Kurino.
Telegram Toxic, Dec p, 1908.
In an interview with the Russian
Minister, December q, 1 pointed out
the fundamental difference in ter
rltorial compass between Japan's ORR
sinai proposals and Russia's new
Counter Proposals, and after fully ex-
planning the reason which induced the
japanese Government to believe it to be
desirable in the general interest to in
clude i'm the proposed understanding
all regions in the Extreme East where
the interests of the two Empires meet,
! expressed the hope that the Russian
government would reconsider their po-
sition regarding that branch of the
question. 1 also informed him fully
respecting the amendments which Jap
anese Government considers it neces-
sary to introduce into Russia'es new
/ COunter-ProposaIs Accordingly, in
order to remove every possibility of
Misunderstanding on the part of Rus
STA respecting the attitude of the Jap
anese Government, you are instructed
to deliver to Count Lamsdorff a Note
Verbale to the following effect:
THE Imperial Government have
examined with great care and atten-
ton the new Russian Counter Propo-
sails Of the 18th instant. They regret
to find that the Imperial Russian Gov
eminent did not see their way in those
proposals to give to the compass of the
suggested understanding the same ter
rtorial extension ais was deemed es-
sential by Japan. The Imperial gov
eminent in their original invitation to
the Imperial Russian Government in
August last, endeavOred to make it
entirely clear that they desired, with
a view to remove from their relations
with the Imperial Russian Government
every cause for future misunderstand-
ing, to bring within the purview of the
proposed arrangement all those regions
in the extreme East where the interests
of the two Empires meet and they
cannot bring themselves to the convic-
ton that a full realization of that
desire can be expected if large and
important portion of those regions is
wholly excluded from consideration.
Accordingly, the Imperial Government
feel constrained to ask the Imperial
Russian government to reconsider their
position on the subject, and they hope
that the Russian Government will be
able to see their way to arrive at a
satisfactory solution of the question.
The Imperial Government also find it
necessary to ask for the following
amendments to the new Russian Coun-
ter-Proposals.
a. Article II 10 read: Recognition
| by Russia of Japan's preponderating
| interests in Korea and of the right of
Japan to give Korea advice and as
sistanCe tending to improve the ad-
ministration of the Korean Empire"
b. Article V to read: Mutual enga-
cement not to undertake on the Korean
coast any military works capable of
menacing the freedom Of navigation
in the Straits of Korea" and
c. Article vi to be suppressed.
LAS the principal part of these
amendments cannot be said to be in
| excess of the notifications which were
agreed to ad referendum at Toxic and
as the Imperial Government considers
those changes indispensable, it is hoped
that they will receive the ready agree
ment of the Imperial Russian Govern
| tOpDt "