The San Francisco call., 1905-04-21
FRANCE ANSWERS
JAPAN'S PROTEST
Nenies That Neutrality Has Been
Violated by Harboring the
Baltic Fleet.

PARIS. April 2O.-Acting upon in
structions from his Government, DR..
MotCno, the Japanese Minister to
France, called upon Foreign Minister
Deicasse this evening and subpitted
representations on behalf of Japan con-
corning the presence of the Russian
Pacific squadron in Kamranh Bay. An
official communication issued after the
meeting announced that Minister Mo
tones action had not the character of
a formal protest against an alleged
violation Of neutrality, but was TO OBJ
tain assurances that France would OBJ
serve strict neutrality
Notwithstanding the official version
IL is evident that the intention and ef-
feet Of MotOno's mission is in the na-
tUre Of protest Foreign Minister
Delcasse responded to the representa-
tlOns Of the Japanese Minister by
pointing out the precautions that had
been taken TO preserve neutrality and
the special instructions recently sent
10 the Governor General of Indo-China,
urging continued care to preserve neu-
Irallty. Delcasse's assurances sought
10 allay the apprehensions CT Japan,
which, he maintained, had not been
justified by any specific facts.
FLEET HAS DEPARTED.
II is maintained that the fleets So
journ al Kamranh Bay was brief, Off
cial information leading to the belief
that the squadron actually left KAN
ranh Bay last Sunday. No japanese
ships were in the vicinity during the
stay of the Russian squadron and
therefore, il is held, it has not the char
acter Of giving asylum TO a belligerent
against the attack Of an enemy.
sc 80, Il, -su
Of Kamranh Bay permits ships to en-
ter and anchor without being in French
territorial waters The bay has a trian-
gular shape, its greatest length being
sixteen and a half miles. its greatest
width, ten miles and the distance
aci oss the entrance, about eight miles.
dimensions permit of vessels en-
1 and mooring without crossing
the lhree-mile French shore limit
From the French standpoint it is not
10 be presumed that ships are within
French waters until il is affirmatively
established that the three-mile limit
has been encrOached upon
Concerning the course of the Russian
Warshlps in taking on stores, il is main
tanned that these were not contraband
OF war, but were necessary provisions,
such as merchantmen may supply at
their own peril.
1t remains for Toxic. to which the
French reply was sent tonight, to say
whether the assurances are consid-
cred sufficient
LONDON'S ATTITUDE CALM.
LONDON. April .-NotWithstandin
emphatic protests Of : some of the
newspapers and shrieks Of indignation
from The lingo press, British Govern
ment officials decline TO admit that
there is anything in the Far Eastern
SITUATION
show that it approaches an acute
stage In other words, the Foreign
Office assumes the attitude of q much
interested spectator of an intensely
dramatic situation which is approach
ing climax in which by some mis-
chance Great Britain might be called
upon To play a part
The announcement in the Paris dis
patches that DR.. MOtono. the japanese
Minister there. has called upon For
eign Minister Delcasse with regard TO
the question Of neutrality has not
changed the views of officials at the
Foreign ONCE, where it was pointed out
to-day that Japan probably had not
made formal protest. but simply de-
sired assurances that France would
continue TO snaintain neutrality and
not afford the Russians any advantage
inconsistent with Frances responsible
tiles as a neutral The Foreign Office
assumes Uhat France most certainly
VIII give some assurance to Japan.
NO ACTION NECESSARY.
The Foreign Office stated that it was
not at all likely that Great Britain
would be required to take action in
support of any protest. The attitude
Of the Foreign Office is that there is
not as yet any proof that neutrality
has been violated and il prefers to
believe that France is preserving neu-
trality according to her own inter-
probation and that Russia would not
willfully involve her ally.
IT is pointed out that similar charges
were brought when Vice Admiral Ro-
5estyensky's squadron was at Nossi-
be and that there is no reason to be-
ieve that there is any ground for the
charge of actual violation of neutrality
at Kamranh Bay.
St PETERSBURG, April 20.-It is