The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-17
JaplN's POSITION SET FORTH.
An OfRcia! Statement Issued to the
World by the Mikado's Gov
ernment---Reasons Given.


ernment---Reas0ns Given.
The following is the text of the
statement issued by the Japanese gov
ernment setting forth it's position:
ssSection l. 1t being indispensable
to the welfare and safety of Japan to
maintain the independence and ter
ritorial integrity of Corea and safe
guerd her paramount interests there
for the japanese government finds it
impossible to o-vieW with Indifference
any action endangering she position Of
Corea, whereas Rsuisa, notwithstand
ing her solemn treaty with China and
her repeated assurances to the powers,
not only continues her occupation of
Manchuria, but has taken aggressive
measures in Corean territory. Should
Manchuria be annexed to Russia, the
independence of Corea would natural
" be impossible. The Japanese gov
ernment being desirous Of securing
permanent peace for eastern Asia, by
means Of direct negotiations with Rus
sia with the view Of arriving at
friendly adjustment Of their mutual
interests in both Manchuria and Co.
rea where their interests meet, COM
municated toward the end of July last
such desire to the Russian government
and invited it's adherence. To this
the Russian government expressed a
willing assent. Accordingly on the
18th of August the japanese govern
ment proposed to Russia through it's
representative at st. Petersburg the
basis of an agreement which was sub
stantially as follows:
81. a mutual engagement to re-
spect the independence and territorial
integrity of the Chinese and Corean
.s2. A mutual engagement to main
tain the peace and an equal opportuni-:
ty for the commercial industry of all
nations with the natives of those
countries.
SO. A reciprocal recognition of
Japan's preponderating Interests in
Corea and that Russia has special in
teress inArailway enterprises in Man
churia and mutual recognition Of
the respective rights Of Japan and
! Russia therein
On Oct. 3, the statement says
Russia rejected counter proposals
declining to make any engamement
respecting the integrity Of China and
requesting that Japan declare Man
churia outside of her sphere of inter
est. These proposals Japan rejected,
and offered others in their stead.
| aIn further discussion Russia pro-
posed to exclude Manchuria from the
convention making it apply to Corea
alone, which prosposal Japan asked
Russia to reconsider.
|, In her note of Jan. 5 Russia propos-
ed to allow Japan treaty privileges in
Manchuria exclusive Of establishment
of settlement on condition that japan
should not employ Corea for stated
purposes. This condition Japan.con-
sidered impossible.
The japanese statement that the
engagement now proposed by Russia
would be impractical in value 80 long
as it was unaccompanied by a definite
stipulation regarding the territorial
integrity of China in Manchuria since
treaty rights are only coexistent with
sovereignty. Evenually the absorp-
tion of Manchuria would annual at once
those rights and privileges acquired
by the powers in Manchuria by virtue
fo treaties with China
JAPAN's DECLARATION OF WAR.
Toxic. Japan. Feb. 1.-THE exist
ence of state of war with Russia was
formally announced yesterday by an
imperial proclamation. The proclama-
tion says:
eve hereby declare war against
Russia and we command our army and
navy to carry on hostilities against
ber, in obedience to their duty, with
all their strength, and we also COM
mand all our competent authorities to
make every effort, III pursuance of
their duties, to attain the national
aim with all the means within the
limits of the law of nations.
The proclamation briefly narrates
the recent negotiations. declaring the
| integrity of Corea and China to be
essential to permanent peace in the
far East. and that Russia has disre-
garded her pledges as to Manchuria.
It says Russia never met the japanese
proposals in a spirit of Cancellation
and concludes:
1--WE cannot in the least admit that
Russia had from the first any serious
or genuine desire for peace. She re-
jected the proposals of our Govern
ment. The safety of Corea was in
danger and the interests Of cur Empire
were menanced. The guarantees for
| the future which We failed to obtain
by peaceful negotiations can now only
be obtained by an appeal to arms.
ut is our earnest wish that by the
| loyalty and valor of our faithful SUBJ
jects peace may soon be permanently
restored and the glory Of our Empire
| preserved"
| Ruee;o' FlecIa arafinn nY War