The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14
The French Reply TO Japan'S Com
plaiut.

plant
On May 10 the Paris Temps, which is
regarded as the organ OF the Foreign
ONCE, published the text Of the docu-
ment in which the Japanese Minister
complained OF an alleged violation OF
French neutrality by Russia. On May
II the same newspaper printed an alb
stract Of the reply made by VI. DELCAssE.
The two papers, taken together, raise
several interesting questions, among
which the most urgent is whether the
French Interpretation Of a neutrals
duty is not equivalent to the assertion
of a right 10 become an unavowed, but a
practical, coadjutor Of belligerent, and
materially to further the latter's warlike
operations.
Admitting that the French Govern
ment sent satisfactory instructions 70
its subordinates in Indo-China after the
need Of them was brought TO its attention
by him, the Japanese Minister submits
that it would have been more consonant
with a neutrals obligations II the in
structions had been sent spontaneously
and in advance, so as to avert the situa-
ton Of which Japan complains. This
seems TO be a reasonable contention.
Undoubtedly government is responsible
for any breaches Of neutrality on the
part Of it's official representatives in
transmarine dependencies. Those rep
resentatives should have received timely,
explicit and peremptory orders, and they
should have been notified that their
official existence depended on their COM
plance Herewith.
The French Foreign Office cannot pre-
tend that it was taken by surprise; for
since RoJEsTvENsKY left the North Sea,
many months ago, he has used French
naval stations for purposes Of repair, OF
revictualing and Of recoaling with as
much freedom as if they had been Rus
sian harbors. We presume that no seri-
Gus objection would be made by Japan
10 the short visits Of the Russian feet at
Cherbourg, Dakar, Algiers, Jibutil and
Majunga, for even the strict rule upheld
by Great Britain and some other mari
time Powers does not prohibit a bellig-
erent vessel from staying twenty-four
hours in a neutral port, and doubtless a
slight prolongation Of that period would
not be caviled at, provided the port in
question we're at great distance from
the expected scene Of hostilities. Even
RoJRsTvENsKY's sojourn at the Island
OF Nossi Be in Madagascar waters,
though it was prolonged for very many
weeks, is not known TO have excited any
formal protest on Japan's part, because
at Toxic and elsewhere the Russian Ad-
mirals intention Of crossing the Indian
Ocean was not credited.
II is now apparent, however, that Ro-
JEsTvENsKY's protracted stay at Nossi
Be was intended not only 10 increase
his fleets efficiency by gun practise and
in other ways, but also 20 render IL easier
for the supplemental squadron under
NIKBoGAToFF TO reinforce him. When
he ultimately crossed the Indian Ocean
and entered the South China Sea he
must have known that, IL the French
local authorities should prove as indul-
gent in Indo-China as they had proved
in Madagascar, he could rely on effect
ing junction with that squadron.
All this should have been as clearly
foreseen by the Paris Foreign Office as
by the St. Petersburg Admiralty; and
II the French Government had been de-
termined not 10 allow it's ports 10 be used
TO further the accomplishment Of the
Russian naval program, it would have
sent peremptory orders months ago 20
its agents in Madagascar and Indo-
China, and would have despatched 70 the
South China Sea feet strong enough 70
enforce obedience upon RoJESTvENsEI.