Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-04-08
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE
IS GIVEN TO PUBLIC
FULL TEXT OF RussIA's REPLY
BEFORE JAPAN BEGAN THE
eATTlE-DETAllE
PLANS.

Press is in O position to complete the
diplomatic history OF the Russo-Jap-
anese relations, resulting In the war.
by giving to the world the exact text
Of Russia's final reply to Japan dated
February Ord, 1904, which has never he
fore been made public. Baron Rosen.
former Russian minister to Japan. did
not have an opportunity OF presenting
the note to Baron Komura, Japanese
foreign minister as 1t was not deliv.
cred to him until February 7th, the day
after be had been informed of the rup.
ture. Russia has always claimed that
the japanese government having de-
Clded to break off negotiations, and be.
gin hostilities, deliberately held up the
message at Toxic until NJ. kurino, for.
mer japanese minister at st. Peters
burg, could deliver the instructions
sent him February 9TH to sever diplo.
matte relations. Japan, on the con.
trary, contended that the contents Of
the reply having been substantially
communicated by Foreign Minister
Iamsdortf to NJ. KurinO. and being un.
acceptable on the main issue, 1t was
useless for Japan TO wait any longer.
The text Of the proposition follows:
/. y mutual engagement to respect
the independence and territorial in.
tegrity Of Korea.
.. An engagement on the part OF
Russia not to impede the commercial
Or industrial undertakings of Japan in
Korea, nor oppose her measures for
safeguarding such interests.
8. Recognition by Russia Of Japan's
preponderating Interests in Korea, and
her right to offer advice and assistance
tending to the improvement of the ad'
ministration of Korea.
4. 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.
5. Recognition by Russia Of Japan's
right to send troops to Korea in &C.
cordance with the preceding articles
for the suppression of instructions
and disorder calculated to create in
ternational complications.
G. An engagement by Russia to re.
spect the rights and privileges acquir'
cd by Japan as well as other powers
in Manchuria through treaties with
China, Japan to recognize Manchuria
and the littoral as beyond her sphere
OF interest.
Z. A mutual agreement not to i'm
pede the junction Of the Korean and
Eastern China railroads when they
have reached the Yalu river.
8. That this agreement supplant al
previous agreements between Russia
and Japan respecting Korea.
Q. The desirability II possible o.
creating a neutral zone in Korea.
A careful comparison of the above
and preceding exchanges all of which
heretofore have been printed fully con
firms the fact that Russia, from thu
first to the last, insisted that 1t wal
inconsistent with her dignity to in
Guide in a special treaty with Japan ar
obligation to respect the territorial
integrity of China in Manchuria, re
iterating In the instructions sent Il
Baron Rosen which were accompanied
by note Of explanation to Japan thai
Russias position In Manchuria con
cerned first China and then all the 9th
er powers having commercial interests
there, and again pointing out the dec
larations already made by Russia Il
foreign cabinets Of her intention 81
long as the occupation Of Manchurit
continued to recognize the sovereign,
and the binding force Of the treatie.
, contracted by the powers with the Pc
kin government.
With the exception Of q rcarrange
ment and some slight verbal changes
, the first Ave articles are identical with
those of Russia's original reply of Octo
Der 3rd, 1908. Russia made three con
cessions in the final note. as follows:
/. The withdrawal of the provision
of January 6. 1904, declining to recog
nize the settlement rights In Manchu
ria acquired under treaties with China
point on which Japan laid grea
stress. These rights Russia claimed
were acquired by Japan under cover o
treaties negotiated by the United
States.
2. Recedence from insistance on thu
proposition for neutral zone in North
ern Korea, but again putting forwart
its desirability.
q Accentanca NJ the stinulation IN