Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-14
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE
nat Passed Between United States
and Japan In 1904.

Washington. April 13-Oficial CORE
Spondence made public at the state de-
partment. today. discloses the fact tina
the Japanese government is announcing
70 the American minister at Toxic on
FEB. 8 of last year. the breaking OF Dip
iomatlc relations with Russia assured
hlm that hostilitics would not begin I'M
~ after declaration had been made.
The correspondence comprises so much
or the diplomatic exchanges between
washington and Toxic as the department
the first is the following official para
phrase of 2 cablegram from Minister
Griscom, dated American Legation To-
kio, Feb. 6, 1901
''Mr. Griscom reports that the minister
Tor foreign affairs stated that a DECLARE
ton of war will not be made until after
the withdrawal of their legation. which
Will probably take two or three days and
possibilities will not begin until after the
declaration of war. In an interview the
minister of foreign affairs went over the
whole course of the negotiations. directed
special attention to the extreme pa
thence and moderation Of the attitude Of
japan and stated that after having asked
the Russian government five times to ex-
pedite reply and having waited three
weeks without result, no alternative re.
manned but to act
On the following day the correspondence
shows that Minister Griscom reported
that the departure of the Russian min
lister would take place on Feb. T..
On Feb. II. subsequent to the receipt
or the news of the torpedo attack lpon
the Russian fleet at Port Arthur on Feb
y. Minister Griscom sent a brief teIe-
gram to the derar tment of which this is
the official paraphr1sc:
Mr.. GriScOm REPORTS that the declar:I-
ton Of war was issued on the 10th in
stant.'
No other correspondence shedding light
on this Incident is contained in the notes
published.
or Interest is a note of Secretary Hay.
dated May last. to the Japanese minis
ter at Washington, calling his attention
to the circulation in the American navy
OF note from the consulate general Of
Japan at New York addressed to "rhc
Japanese Serving in the United States
Navy, soliciting subscriptions to Japa-
nese bonds. contributions for the relief
fund for japanese soldiers and sailors
and in aid of the Red Cross Society of
japan.
While admitting the right of Japanese
III this country to subscribe or contrib
ute to the objects mentioned. the secre-
tary says in his note to Mr.. Takahira:
Yet it is undesirable that such con-
tributions should be sought through the
ment.'' and he therefore brings the mat
ter to your attention with the request
that you will inform the consular officers
of japan in the United States of the at
tltude of his government I'm the matter"
The japanese minister gave the neccs-
sary instructions to the Japanese consul
general at New York
The correspondence includes a copy OF
a note from the Japanese minister. at
Washington calling the attention OF this
government to the presence OF the Rus
sian ship Lena at San Francisco and
saying that the Imperial government ex-
poets that appropriate measures regard
ing the matter will he taken by the Unit
ed States government without delay. Sew
eral days later another note reached thu
state department from the Japanese min
lister expressing the desire OF his govern
ment that the officers and crew OF the
Lena be detained in the territory of the
United States until the end of h6stilities
The acting secretary of state. Nv. Adee.
promptly replied acknowledging the note
and adding. ''In reply 7 have the honor
to state that the President. exercising his
prerosative in carving ont the neutral
ity proclaimed by him. had already. be-
fore the receipt of yor,r commrnica ton
taken the appropriate steps to detain the
officers and crew of the Lena in this
country until peace shall have been con-
clr'led unless in the meantime the hellie-
erents shall have coucurred in promising
to him other arrangements in this re-
gard"