The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-12
RUssIA's REPLY.
Official Rejoinder to Japan's Latest
Manifesto.

Manifesto.
ST. Petersburg, March 12-The follow
ing reply inspired by the foreign office
to Japans rejoinder to the Russian pro-
test against the violation of Korean
neutrality maybe accepted as official:
"Japan's argument that she was justi-
fed in landing troops in Korea before
the declaration of war, before she had
Korea's permission and also that these
troops arrived in Korea after the ex-
istence of a state of war is without
value, as Korea in January promulgated
her neutrality to the powers, which re-
ceived it warmly, Great Britain even
officially conveying expressions of graft
tude to the Korean government. There
lore no state OF war gave the japanese
the right to violate her neutrality by
sending troops in the territory. Even
the consent of Korea, though extorted
by the japanese, is without force from
the fact that the dispatch of troops was
breaking off of diplomatic relations as
clearly established and indeed acknowl-
edged by they themselves.
"Japan's contention in defense of the
attack of the Russian ships at Chemul-
Pc, that the port was not neutral Feb
ruary 8, is false again because Korea
had proclaimed her neutrality.
"JaDan's denial of malicious interior
ence with the transmission of Russian
kilograms over the Danish cable cannot
be sustained. A telegram to Baron
Brozen, then Russian minister to Japan
at Toxic, sent from St. Petersburg Feb
ruary 4. was not delivered until the
morning of February 8. That delay did
not occur on the Siberian line as shown
by the fact that a reply to a telegram
from Vlceroy Alexieff sent at the same
time was received the same day.
Therefore is it conclusive that De-
Rosen'S telegram was held by the Jap
anese and not delivered for two days.
Communication with NJ. Pavloff, then
Russian minister to Korea by the Kor-
can telegraph ceased in the middle of
January. AS the Koreans were enjoy
ing friendly relations with Russia
there is good ground to believe that the
interruption was due to Japan. There
after M. Payloff used a mail steamer or
q special warship to communicate with
Port Arthur. The minister of Russia
in Korea, February s. therefore knew
nothing of the diplomatic rupture.
Japan pleads that the charge against
her seizure of Russian merchantmen
/ before the declaration of war can not
stand after the prize court. The seiz-
ure after the declaration of war being
piracy is not defensibIe by the estab-
! lishment of the prize court, which can
not exist before a declaration of war
The steamer Russia was seized in the
waters of southern Korea even before
M. Kurino had presented his note
here
The reply concludes:
Our information regarding Japan's
announcement that in future Korea
would be under her administration
came from M. Pavloff and also from
the report of a friendly power at Seoul
Japan's denial, consequently is fruit
less, as also is the attempt to refute
! our statement that the Russian minis
ter and consul at Seoul were told &c
/ leave. AS conclusive proofs in st. Pc
! tersburg on February 10, that the
French minister at Seoul had officially
notified our Representatives that the
Japanese government had intimated
| that they should leave and that the
Japanese had occupied territory in
/ Korea. NJ. Pavloff was at first unable
/ to notify our consul at Fusan, his tele-
gram being refused at the telegraph Of
| fice.'