The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-28
RUssIA,s FINAL REPnY.
Her Last Note Before the War Made
Public for First Time.


Paris March 2s.-The Associated
Press is in a position to complete the
diplomatic history of the RuSSia-Japa-
neSe relations, resulting in the war by
giving to the world the exact text of
Russia's final reply to Japan dated
February 5, 1904, which has never be-
fore been published. Baron Rosen, for
mer Russian minister to Japan, did not
have an opportunity of presenting the
note to Baron KiriIna, japanese foreign
minister, as it was not delivered to him
until February Z, the day after he had
been informed OF the rupture. Russia
has always claimed that the japanese
government having decided to break off
negotiations and begin hostiHties de-
liberately held up the message at Toxic,
until M. Kirino, former japanese min
lister at st. Petersburg, could deliver the
instructions sent him February s. to
sever diplomatic relations. Japan on
the contrary contended that the con-
tents of the reply having been sub
stantially communicated by Foreign
Minister Lamsdorn to NJ Kurino and
being unacceptable on the main issue,
it was useless for Japan to wait any
longer The text of the proposition fol-
lows.
l. 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 Industrial undertakings of Japan in
safeguarding such interests.
g. Recognition by Russia of Jap
ans preponderating interests in Korea
and her right to offer advice and as
sistance tending to the Improvement
of the administration of Korea.
4. A mutual obligation not to use
any part of Korean territory for STRAIT
egic purposes nor undertake on the
coasts of Korea any military works
which menace free navigation of the
Korean straits.
5. Recognition by Russia of Jap
ans right to send troops to Korea in
accordance with the preceding articles
for the suppression of instructions
and disorder calculated to create IN
ternal complications
e. An engagement by Russia to re-
spect the rights and privileges acquired
by Japan as well as other powers in
Manchuria through treaties with China,
Japan to recognize Manchuria and the
littoraI as beyond her sphere OF interest
T. A mutual greement not to impede
the junction of the KOren and eastern
China railroads, when they have reach
ed the Yalu river.
s. That this agreement supplant all
previous agreements between Russia
and Japan respecting Korea.
g. The desira bility if 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
first to the last insisted that it was in
consistent with her dignity to include
in a special treaty with japan an
obligation to respect the territorial in
tegrity of China in Manchuria, reiter-
ating it in the Instructions sent to
Baron Rosen which were accom-
panied by a note of explanation to
Japan that Russia's position III Man
churia concerned first China and then
all the other powers having CONNER
ciaI interests there and again point
ing out the declarations already made
by Russia to foreign cabinets of her
intention so long as the occupation of
Manchuria continued to recognize the
sovereignty and the binding force OF
the treaties contracted by the powers
with the Pekin government With the
exception of rearrangement and
some slight verbal changes the first
FIVE articles are Identical with those
of Russia's original reply of October
8. 1903. Russia made three conces-
sions in the anal note as follows:
1.-The withdrawal of the provision OF