Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-28
CAUSE OF
 THE ROW.
Exact Text of Rus
 sia's Final Reply.
Now Given to the World for First Time..Russia Claims .IapanWas Ready to Break off Negotiations.

Press is in q position to complete the diplomatic history of the Russo-Japan- csc relations resulting in the war by giving to the world the exact text os Russia's final reply to Japan, dated February 8, 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 Komura, Japanese foreign minister, as it was not deliv- cred to him until February ', the day after he had been informed of the rup- ture. Russia has always claimed that the Japanese government having de- cided to break off negotiations and begin hostilities, deliberately held up the message at Tokio until M. kurlno, former Japanese minister at St Peters, burg, could deliver the instructions sent him February 5 to sever diplo- matic relations. Japan on the contrary contended that the contents of the reply having been substantially com municated by Foreign Minister Lams- dOrff to NJ. kurino, and being unac- ceptable on the main issue, it was use less for Japan to wait any longer. The text of the proposition follows:
 q. A mutual engagement to respect the independence and territorial integ- rity y, of Korea. ,,. ~, +,,o ,,,,+ of Russia not to impede the commercial or industrial undertakings of Japan in Korea nor oppose her measures for safeguarding such interests.
 "3 Recognition by Russia of Ja- pans prelonderati ting interests in Korea and her right to offer advice and as sistance tending to the improvement of the administration of Korea.
 fl. 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.
 a. Recognition by Russia of Ja' pans right to send troops to Korea Ill accordance with the preceding articles for the suppression of instructions and disorders calculated to create in ternational complications.
 "6. An engagement by Russia to re spect the rights and privileges ac | auired by Japan as well as other pow CTS in Manchuria through treaties witt China, Japan to recognize Manchurl' and the littoral as beyond her spher' of interest.
 "7. A mutual agreement not to i'm pede the junction of the Korean ant Eastern China railroads when the. have reached the Yalu river.
 IS. That this agreement supplan all previous agreements between Rus sia and Japan respecting Korea.
 @. The desirability if possible O creating neutral zone in Korea.
 A careful comparison of the abov
 and preceding exchanges, all of whicl heretofore have been printed, fully con
 firms the fact that Russia from tn
 first to the last insisted that 1t was in
 consistent with her dignity to includ
 in special treaty with Japan an obi
 gation to respect the territorial integr
 ty of China in Manchuria. reiteratin
 in the instructions sent to Baron Rose
 which were accompanied by note Q
 explanation to Japan. that Russia
 position In Manchuria concerned frs
 China and then all the other power
 having commercial interests there. an
 again pointing out the declarations a
 ready made by Russia to foreign cal
 inets of her intention so long as tn
 occupation of Manchuria continued | : recognize the sovereignty of China an tbe binding force of the treaties col , tracted by the powers with the Peki : government.
 With the exception of re-arrang ment and some slight verbal change , the first five articles are identical wit those of Russias original reply of o tober 3. 1903. Russia made three col : sessions in the final note as follows: II, The withdrawal of the prOvlsi0 in the Russian note of Janlgiry 6, l9W declining to recognize Il settlement reports in Manchuria q ouirei under treaties with China, , point on which Japan laid great stres ! These rights Russia claimed were !, duired by Japan under cover of Ire ; ties negotiated by the United States | ..2. Recedence from insistence upt ' the pronositiOn for q neutral zone U northern Korea. but again putting fo ' ward its desirability.
 "3. Acceptance of the stipulation
 article three of Japans original proPo.
 tions regarding the juncture of u Korean and Manchurian railroads. 5 Russia refused:
 "1. To include in the treaty an 0 Il liyation to respect the territorial inte rity of Manchuria.
 a2. To withdraw the lnhiDint z against using Korean territory | {, strategic purposes.
 The note. it is claimed, proves @ e clusively that Russia hoped to proioi
 the negotiations.