The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-24
HOW RUSSIA PROTESTS
TO OTHER POWERS.
Declares That Japan Violates the
Laws of Nations.


st. Petersburg, Feb. 2S.-Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff yesterday sent the
following circular to Russian repre-
sentatives abroad.
"Since the rupture of the negotia-
tons between Russia and Japan the
attitude of the Toxic cabinet has con-
stituted open violation of all customary
laws governing the mutual relations of
civilized nations. Without specifying
each particular violation of these laws
on the part of Japan, the imperial
government considers it necessary to
draw the most serious attention of the
Powers to the acts of violence COM
mitted byO the Japanese government
with respect to Korea. The independ-
ence and integrity of Korea, as a fully
independent empire, has been fully
recognized by all the Powers, and the
inviolability of this fundamental
principle was confirmed by Article
of the Simoneseki treaty, and by the
agreement especially concluded for
this purpose between Japan and Great
Britain on Jan. 80, 1902, as well as by
the Franco Russian declaration of
March 16, 1902.
1.-THE Emperor of Korea, foreseeing
the danger of a possible conflict be-
tween Russia and Japan, addressed
early in January, 1904, note to all the
Powers, declaring his determination to
preserve the strictest neutrality. This
declaration was received with salts
faction by the Powers, and it was rati-
! fed by Russia. According to the Rus
sian minister to Korea, the British
government charged the diplomatic
representative at Seoul to present an
official note to the Emperor of Korea.
thanking him for his declaration of
neutrality.
I'm disregard of all these facts. in
spite of all treaties, in spite of its obli-
cations, and in violation of the funda-
mental rules of international law, it
has been proved by exact and fully
confirmed facts that the Japanese gov
eminent first, before the opening of
hostilities against Russia, landed its
troops in the independent empire of
Korea, which had declared its neu-
trality; second, with a division of its
fleet it made a sudden attack on Feb.
s, that is, three days prior to the
declaration of war, on two Russian
warships in the neutral port of Che
mulpo. The commanders of these ships
had not been notified of the severance
of diplomatic relations, as the Japa-
nese maliciously stopped the delivery
of Russian kilograms by the Danish
cable and destroyed the telegraphlc
communication of the Korean govern
ment The details of this dastardly
attack are contained and published in
an official telegram from the Russian
minister at Seoul.
Third. In spite of the international
laws above mentioned and shortly be-
fore the opening of hostilities, the Jap
anese captured as a prize OF war GER
tain Russian merchant ships in neutral
ports of Korea.
Fourth. Japan declared to the EN-
peror of Korea, through the Japanese
minister at Seoul, that Korea would
henceforth be under Japanese admins
tration. and she warned the Emperor
that in case of his compliance,
Japanese troops would occupy the pal
ace.
Fifth. Through the French minister
at Seoul she summoned the Russian
representative at the Korean court to
leave the country, with the stats of the
Russian legation and consulate.
Recognizing that all the above facts
constitute a fragrant breach of inter-
national law, the imperial government
considers it to be it's duty to lodge
protest with all the Powers against this
procedure of the Japanese government,
and it is firmly convinced that all the
Powers, valuing the principles which
guarantee their relations, will agree
with the Russian attitude. At the same
time, the imperial government consid-
ers it necessary to issue timely warn
ing that, owing to Japan's illegal as
- in ha
eminent declares all orders and declara-
tons which may be issued on the part
of the Korean government to be in
valid"