Nr. 13170. JAPAN. Komura an Kurino. - Rußland lehnt die

japanischen Vorschläge ab und will die mand

schurische Frage mit China allein verhandeln.

Tokyo, October 22nd, 1903.

(Telegram.) || The result of discussions between Baron Rosen and myself on our amendments to the Russian Counter-Proposals is as follows:

Amendments to Articles II and VI accepted, ad referendum, Article III accepted, and Article IV reserved for further discussion. It is in Article VII of our amendment to Article VII of the Russian CounterProposals that no agreement could be reached, each insisting on the impossibility of accepting the other's proposition. The contention of the Russian Minister is: 1st, that the Russian Article VII is the only compensation to Russia for the concessions to be made by her in respect of Korea; and 2nd, that admission of the Japanese amendments on this point would be contrary to the principle always insisted on by Russia that the question concerning Manchuria is one exclusively for Russia and China admitting of no interference on the part of any third Power. Our contention is: 1st, that Japan does not ask for any concession from Russia with respect to Manchuria, her proposing being simply to have confirmed in the Agreement the principle which has been voluntarily and repeatedly declared by Russia; and 2nd, that Japan possesses in Manchuria her treaty rights aud commercial interests, and she must obtain from Russia a guarantee for the security of those rights and interests as well as of the independence of Korea which would be constantly menaced by Russia's definitive occupation of Manchuria.

Nr. 13171. JAPAN.-Komura an Kurino. Weitere ergebnislose Verhandlungen.

Tokyo, October 29th, 1903.

(Telegram.) || In reference to my telegram of the 22nd instant, as the result of further discussions, the amendment on Article IV was finally accepted ad referendum. Regarding Article VI, my proposal of fixing the extent of the neutral zone at 50 kilometres on each side of the frontier was accepted ad referendum. As to Article VII, no agreement could yet. be reached.

Nr. 13172. JAPAN.

Derselbe an Denselben. Neue Vorschläge Japans. Unabhängigkeit und Integrität Chinas und Koreas; Mandschurei außerhalb der japanischen, Korea außerhalb der russischen Interessensphäre.

Tokyo, October 30th, 1903.

(Telegram.) I presented to Baron Rosen on the 30th instant the following as definite amendments of the Imperial Government to the Russian Counter-Proposals:

1. =

Mutual engagement to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the Chinese and Korean Empires.

2.

Recognition by Russia of Japan's preponderating interests in Korea and of the right of Japan to give to Korea advice and assistance, including military assistance, tending to improve the administration of the Korean Empire.

3.

Engagement on the part of Russia not to impede the development of the commercial and industrial activities of Japan in Korea, nor to oppose any measures taken for the purpose of protecting those

interests.

4.

Recognition by Russia of the right of Japan to send troops to Korea for the purpose mentioned in the preceding Article or for the purpose of suppressing insurrection or disorder calculated to create international complications.

5.

Engagement of the part of Japan not to undertake on the coasts of Korea any military works capable of menacing the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Korea.

6. Mutual engagement to establish a neutral zone on the KoreaManchurian frontier extending 50 kilometres on each side, into which neutral zone neither of the Contracting Parties shall introduce troops without the consent of the other.

7. Recognition by Japan that Manchuria is outside her sphere of special interest and recognition by Russia that Korea is outside her sphere of special interest.

8.

Recognition by Japan of Russia's special interests in Manchuria and of the right of Russia to take such measures as may be necessary for the protection of those interests.

9.

Engagement on the part of Japan not to interfere with the commercial and residential rights and immunities belonging to Russia in virtue of her treaty engagements with Korea, and engagement on the part of Russia not to interfere with the commercial and residential rights

and immunities belonging to Japan in virtue of her treaty engagements with Chine.

10. Mutual engagement not to impede the connection of the Korean railway and the East-China railway when those railways shall have been eventually extended to the Yalu.

11. This Agreement to supplant all previous Agreements between Japan and Russia respecting Korea.

Nr. 13173. JAPAN.

Komura an Kurino. Unterbrechung der Verhandlungen. Japan verlangt Schutz seiner vertragsmäßigen Rechte in der Mandschurei. Tokyo, November 1st, 1903. (Telegram.) || Baron Rosen called on me October 31st and stated that the definite proposals which I presented to him as amendments to the Russian proposals as reported in my telegram of the 30th October were beyond his instructions and that he would, November 1st, telegraph the full text of the said proposals to his Government and ask for further instructions. Accordingly you are instructed to see as soon as possible the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs in the absence of Count Lamsdorff, and say to him that in preparing the proposals in question, the Japanese Government did not fail to take into full consideration the wishes of the Russian Government. You will inform him that in proposing a joint engagement to respect the independence and territorial integrity of China. equally of Korea, the Japanese Government were merely asking a reaffirmations of declarations already spontaneously made by Russia, and when it is considered that Russia is prepared to make such an engagement respecting Korea, the reason for excluding China is not understood. The Japanese Government are prepared to admit that the Manchurian question, so far as it does not affect their rights and interests, is purely a Russo-Chinese question; but Japan has extensive and important rights and interests in that region, and the Japanese Government think that in declaring that Manchuria is outside their sphere of special interest, they are at least entitled to ask for a correlative engagement on the part of Russia not to interfere with the commercial and residential rights and immunities belonging to Japan in virtue of her treaty engagements with China. You will in addition point out that the invitation of the Japanese Government which originated the present negotiations, had in view a definition of the special interest of Japan and Russia in those regions of the Far East where the interests of the two powers meet. The Japa

Staatsarchiv LXIX.

15

as might be inferred from

nese Government could not have anticipated that the Russian Government, in accepting that invitation, would wish Article VII of their Counter-Proposals,

to restrict the proposed defi

nition exclusively to the region in which Japan possesses special interests.

Nr. 13174. JAPAN. - Kurino an Komura. - Der Stellvertreter Lamsdorffs, Obolensky, sieht die ganze Schwierig

keit in der Eisenbahnfrage.

Petersburg, November 3rd, 1903. (Received, November 3rd, 1903.) (Telegram.) || I saw the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 2nd November. He said, as his personal opinion, that Japan is making the same demands only in different form and that those demands are too great. I asked in what respects the Japanese Government are considered to be demanding too much, and I added that we do not ask anything more than the recognition of existing treaty rights and immunities of Japan in Manchuria. He then stated that Baron Rosen had said nothing on the subject. The only difficulty, he said, is the connection of the Korean and Manchurian railways. To my question whether there are no other difficulties, he answered that the railway question is the only difficulty, although it had been accepted ad referendum; and in conclusion I asked him to use his best influence for the satisfactory solution of the question, as the Japanese Government are fully animated by the spirit of conciliation, and I urged him to advise Count Lamsdorff in the same sense and if possible, to approach the Emperor of Russia on the question. He said that he is willing to do so, and added that Count Lamsdorff will return at the end of this week.

Nr. 13175. JAPAN. Kurino an Komura. - Unterredung mit Lamsdorff. Die Rechte der fremden Mächte in der Mandschurei bilden die Schwierigkeit.

Petersburg, November 13th, 1903. (Received, November 13th, 1903.) (Telegram.) || I saw Count Lamsdorff November 12th, and asked whether he had received a copy of the telegram which I had handed to Prince Obolensky and whether any action had been taken in the matter. He answered that he had submitted the telegram to the Emperor, and that before his departure from Darmstadt, he sent under an Imperial order instructions to Baron Rosen to continue negotiations with the Japanese Government. I asked him whether it is on the basis of our

last proposal that Baron Rosen was instructed to go on negotiating. Count Lamsdorff said that Baron Rosen had been ordered by the Emperor to examine our last proposal with Admiral Alexieff and to make modification if necessary, and added that at this moment Baron Rosen and Admiral Alexieff must be engaged in the preparation of Counter-Proposals. I remarked to Count Lamsdorff that according to the view of Prince Obolensky, the connection of Korean and Manchurian railways is the question that divides the two Governments; but the Japanese Government having subsequently modified the article relating to the question, I cannot believe that it is the principal point on which an agreement can not be established. Count Lamsdorff replied that he thinks for his part that it is the Manchurian question which divides the two parties, as he had said from the very beginning the Russian Government consider always that this question is a question exclusively between Russia and China, and it must be reserved to his Government to take all proper measures to safeguard their very considerable interests in Manchuria by means of an arrangement with China. I explained to him that Japan is ever ready to recognize the special and considerable interests which Russia has in Manchuria, and that she has no intention whatever of trespassing upon them, but that Japan has a perfect right to demand that the independence and territorial integrity of China shall be respected and the rights and the interests of Japan in that region shall be guaranteed. Count Lamsdorff answered that the objection relates to the form rather than the substance of the proposal. In Manchuria other Powers also have rights and interests, and Russia cannot enter into special arrangement with each of those Powers regarding Manchuria. I observed that should the Russian Government be in accord with Japan in principle, it is deeply to be regretted that an understanding cannot be reached, merely because of failure to find a suitable formula by which to bring the two Governments to an arrangement, and that I could not but ardently ask him to use his influence to bring about a satisfactory solution according to the principles already admitted by Russia.

Nr. 13176. JAPAN.-Komura an Kurino. -Wünscht Beschleunigung der Verhandlungen.

Tokyo, November 21st, 1903. (Telegram.) || Baron Rosen informed me November 20th, that he received a telegram November 14th from Admiral Alexieff to the effect that Admiral Alexieff had already forwarded the Counter-Proposals to St. Peters