The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-21
JlPlk's PROTEST MlDE Representations to French Government on Presence . of Russian Fleet in
 Kamranh Bay.
DR. MOTONO SEES DELCASSE
LATTER SEEKS TO ALLAY JAP
 ANESE APPREHENSIoNS.

LATTER SEEKS TO ALLAY JAP
 ANESE APPREHENsIoNS.
 Gives Assurances That All Precaution,
 Have Been Taken for the Observance
 of Strict Neutrality-special Instruc-
 lions Sent to Indo-China on the Sub-
 ject-Belief That RojestvensI<y Left
 Last sunday--Report That He Has
 Passed Straits of Formosa--Japanese $, Armies Advancing.
 Paris, April 2O.-Aeting upon instruc- tions from his government, pr. Motono, the Japanese minister to France. called on Foreign Minister .Delcasse this even- ing and submitted representations, on behalf of Japan, concerning the pres ence of the Russian Pacific squadron in Kamranh Bay. An official communica- tion issued after the meeting states that Minister Motonos action had not the character of formal protest against an alleged violation of neutrality, but was to obtain assurances that France would observe strict neutrality.
 Notwithstanding the official version, { it is evident that the intention and ef- feet of Minister Motono's action is in the nature of protest.
 Foreign Minister Delcasse responded to the representations of the Japanese minister by pointing out the precau- tions heretofore taken to preserve neu- trality and the special instructions re- gently sent to the governor-general of Indo-C China upon continued care to pre- serve neutrality. M. Delcasse's assur- ances sought to allay the approximations of Japan, which, he maintained, had not been justified by any specific facts. s The exact terms of Japan's represent tations have not been disclosed, but it is understood that, while having the usual courteous form of diplomacy, they set forth that serious approximations had been aroused by the stay of the Russian warships in Kamranh Bay and the urgent desire that French neutral ity be placed beyond doubt.
 The terms of the French response, although not given out, tend to give ample assurances upon all the ques- tions raised. The text of the official communication upon the conference is as follows:
 .'Dr. Motono, minister of Japan, has taken steps to call the attention of the minister of foreign affairs upon the re- ported presence of Russian vessels in Kamranh Bay. At the ministry of for eign affairs it is stated that Minister Motono's action does not take the char acter of a formal protest against alleg- ed violation of neutrality by France relative to the Russian fleet. The Jap anese minister particularly desired to obtain from the French government, as he had done when the Baltic squadron passed Cherbourg, and more recently when it soourned off Madagascar, some formal assurances that France would continue to observe strict neutrality.
 These assurances evidently seemed more and more indispensable to Japan as the Russian fleet approached the coast of Indo- China and entered the theater of war. The French govern ment has on frequent occasions point edly affirmed that all precautions have been taken for the observance of neu- trality. Special instructions have even been forwarded to Indo-China on the subject The minister of foreign affairs is therefore able to allay the uneasiness Japan has manifested, which has not been Justified, up to the present, by any specific fact"
 Besides these general assurances, the conference doubtless permitted of the explanation of the French point of view concerning the stay of Russian war ships i'll Kamranh Bay. It is maintain ed that this was at most a brief soourn and not prolonged stay, official in- formation leading to the belief that the squadron actually left Kamranh Bay last Sunday. No Japanese ships were in the vicinity during the stay of the Russian squadron, and therefore, it is held, 1t had not the character of giving asylum to a belligerent against the en- emy. Moreover, it is maintained, the size of Kanranh Bay permits ships to enter and anchor without being within French territorial waters. The bay has a triangular shape, it's greatest length being sixteen and "a half miles, it's greatest width ten miles and the dis tance across the entrance about eight miles. f
 These dimensions permit of vessels entering and mooring without crossing the three-mile French shore limit From the French standpoint it is not to be presumed that ships are within French waters until it is affirmatively established that the three-mile limit has been encroached upon:
 PASSED FoRMOSA STRAITS.