Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-28
Her Final Reply Appears to Place
Japan ia an Unlayorable
Light.
FIRST TIME FULL TEXT GIVEN
Three Important Concessions Made In
The Final NOte-Was Russia
hOnestp

rams MATCH @o.-"lNe Associated
Press is IN a position to complete the
diplomatic history OF the Russo-Jap-
anese relations, resulting in the war,
by giving TO the world the exact text
Of Russia's Anal reply to Japan, dated
Feb. 3, 1904 which has never before
been made public. Baron Rosen, for
mer Russian minister to Japan, did not
have an opportunity Of presenting the
note to Baron Komura, Japanese for
elgn minister, as It was not delivered
to him until Feb, Z, the day after he
had been informed Of the rupture. Rus
sla has always claimed that the Japan
csc government having decided to break
of negotiations and begin hostillties,de
llberately held up the message at Toxic
until NJ. Kurlno, former japanese min
lister at 81. Petersburg, could deliver
the instructions sent him Feb. to
sever diplomatic relations. Japan, on
the contrary contehded that the con-
tents Of the reply having been sub
stantially communicated by Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff to NJ. Kurino and
being unacceptable on the main issue,
II was useless for Japan 10 wait any
longer, The text of the proposition fol-
lows:
1. a mutual engagement to respect
the independence and territorial integ-
rity of Korea.
2. An engagement on the part Of
Russia not to impede the commercial
or indi 'lal undertakings Of Japan In
Koreg or oppose her measures for
safeguarding such interests.
3. Recognition by Russia OF Japan's
preponderating interests IN Korea and
her right to offer advice and assist
ance tending to the Improvement Of the
administration OF Korea.
4, A mutual obligation not TO use any
part OF Korean territory for strategic
purposes nor undertake on the coasts
of Korea any military works which
menace free navigation OF the Korean
straits.
3. Recognition by Russia Of Japun's
| right to send troops TO Korea In ac-
cordanoe with tite preceding articles
! for the suppression Of Instructions and
| disorder calculated 10 create interna-
| tional complications.
6. An engagement by Russia TO re-
| spect the rights and privileges acquired
| by Japan as well as other powers IN
| Manchurla through treaties with China.
| Japan to recognize Manchuria and the
| lttoral as beyond her sphere Of inter-
| est
7. a mutual agreement not TO inn
| pede the junction OF the Korean and
| Eastern China railroads when they
| have reached the Yalu river.
6. That this agreement supplant all
| previous agreements between Russia
| and Japan respecting Korea.
o. The desirabillty II possible Of Gre
| ating a neutral zone IN Korea,
A careful comparison OF the above
| and preceding exchanges all OF which
| heretofore have been printed fully con-
| firms the fact that Russia from the first
| TO the last insisted that II wa inconsist-
| ent with her dignity TO include In n
special treaty with Japan an obligation
| 20 respect the territorial integrity Of
China In Manchuria reiterating in the
Instructions sent TO Baron Rosen which
were accompanied by q note OF explain
alton TO Japan that Russin's position
IN Manchuria concerned first China and
then all the other powers having COM
mercial interests there and again point
ing out the declarations already made
by Russia 20 foreign cabinet Of her
intention so long as the occupation OF
Manchuria continued 10 recognize the
sovereignty and the binding force Of
the treaties contracted by the powers
with the Pekln government
With the exception Of re-arrange-
ment and some slight verbal changes
the first 1--WE articles are Identical with
those OF Russla's original reply Of oct
g. 1903. Russia made three concessions
I'm the final note as follows.
I. The withdrawal Of the provision OF
the Russian note OF Jan. 9. 1904, de-
clining TO recognize the settlement
rights IN Manchurla acquired under
treaties with China, n point on which
Japan laid great stress. Those rights
Russia claimed were acquired by Japan
under cover Of treaties negotiated by
the United states
g. Recedence from insistence on the
proposition FOR neutral zone In north
ern Korea but again putting forward
its desirabilitv.
3. Acceptance OF tho stipulation In
article of Japan's original propositions
regarding the juncture Of the Korean
ann Manchurlan railroads
Russia refused
l. TO include IN the treaty an obll-
CATION 30 respect the territorial integri-
" OF Manchnria
2 TO withdraw the inhibition against
using Korean territory for strategic
purposes.
The note II Is claimed proves con-
cluslvely that Russia hoped 20 prolons
the negotiations.