where the interests of the two Empires meet, and they cannot bring themselves to the conviction that a full realization of that desire can be expected if a large and important portion of those regions is wholly excluded from consideration. Accordingly, the Imperial Government feel constrained to ask the Imperial Russian Government to reconsider their position on the subject, and they hope that the Russian Government will be able to see their way to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the question. The Imperial Government also find it necessary to ask for the following amendments to the new Russian Counter-Proposals:

,༦.

Article II to read: „Recognition by Russia of Japan's preponderating interests in Korea and of the right of Japan to give Korea advice and assistance tending to improve the administration of the Korean Empire."

,,b. Article V to read: ,,Mutual engagement not to undertake on the Korean coast any military works capable of menacing the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Korea;" and

„As the principal part of these amendments cannot be said to be in excess of the modifications which were agreed to ad referendum at Tokyo and as the Imperial Government consider those changes indispensable, it is hoped that they will receive the ready agreement of the Imperial Russian Government."

In presenting the foregoing note to Count Lamsdorff, you will say that I have spoken to Baron Rosen in a similar sense, and you will also express the desire for an early response.

vor einer Antwort mit Alexieff beraten.

Petersburg, December 23rd, 1903. (Received, December 24th, 1903.) (Telegram.) | Upon receipt of your telegraphic instructions, I saw Count Lamsdorff December 23rd at 2 p.m. He told me he had received a telegram from Baron Rosen, stating that the latter had had an interview with you, and that particulars would follow, but such particulars had not been received yet by him. When I handed him the Note Verbale, he said that he would study it together with report from Baron Rosen, and that he would do his best to send the Russian answer at the earliest possible date; but he added that he would have to communicate with Admiral Alexieff. In conclusion, I stated to him that under the present circumstances it might cause serious difficulties, even complications,

if we failed to come to an entente, and I hoped he would exercise his best influence so as to enable us to reach the desired end.

Nr. 13187. JAPAN. Kurino an Komura.

heißt neue Instruktion an Rosen.

Lamsdorff ver

Petersburg, January 1st, 1904. (Received, January 2nd, 1904.) (Telegram.) || I saw Count Lamsdorff January 1st, and asked whether any action had been taken regarding our last propositions. He said they had been fully considered; and he asked me to assure you that Baron Rosen will soon be instructed to proceed with the negotiations in a friendly and conciliatory spirit, and he added that he saw no reason why we could not arrive at an entente.

Nr. 13188. JAPAN. Komura an Kurino. Neue russische Vorschläge. Neutrale Zone, militärische Beschränkung Japans in Korea.

Tokyo, January 7th, 1904.

(Telegram.) | Baron Rosen handed to me January 6th the following reply of the Russian Government to our last propositions of December 21st last:

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„Having no objection to the amendments to Article II of the Russian Counter-Proposals as proposed by the Imperial Japanese Government, the Imperial Government considers it necessary:

,,1. To maintain the original wording of Article V which had already been agreed to by the Imperial Japanese Government, that is to say,,mutual engagement not to use any part of the territory of Korea for strategical purposes, nor to undertake on the coasts of Korea any military works capable of menacing the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Korea'.

..2. To maintain Article VI concerning a neutral zone (this for the very purpose which the Imperial Japanese Government has likewise in view, that is to say, to eliminate everything that might lead to misunderstandings in the future; a similar zone, for example, exists between the Russian and British possessions in Central-Asia).

,,In case the above conditions are agreed to, the Imperial Government would be prepared to include in the projected agreement an Article of the following tenor:

,,Recognition by Japan of Manchuria and her littoral as being outside her sphere of interests, whilst Russia, within the limits of that province, will not impede Japan, nor other Powers in the enjoyment of rights and privileges acquired by them under existing treaties with China, exclusive of the establishment of settlements."

Nr. 13189. JAPAN. Komura an Kurino.

russischen Vorschläge ab.

Japan lehnt die

Tokyo, January 13th, 1904.

(Telegram.) || You are instructed to deliver to Count Lamsdorff a Note Verbale to the following effect which, you will say, is intended to confirm to him the views of the Imperial Government communicated by me to Baron Rosen on the 13th January:

The Imperial Government, in order to arrive at a pacific solution of the pending questions and to firmly establish the basis of good relation between Japan and Russia, and in addition with a view to protect the rights and interests of Japan, have given most careful and serious consideration to the reply of the Imperial Russian Government which was delivered by His Excellency Baron Rosen on the 6th instant. They have finally come to the conclusion that the following modifications are necessary, i. e.:

1.

Suppression of the first clause of Article V of the Russian Counter-Proposals (presented to the Japanese Government through Baron Rosen December 11th) that is to say, not to use any part of Korean territory for strategical purposes".

2. Suppression of the whole Article (VI) concerning establishment of a neutral zone.

3.

The Russian proposal concerning Manchuria to be agreed to with the following modifications:

a.

Recognition by Japan of Manchuria and its littoral as being outside her sphere of interest and an engagement on the part of Russia to respect the territorial integrity of China in Manchuria.

b. Russia within the limits of Manchuria will not impede Japan nor other Powers in the enjoyment of rights and privileges acquired by them under the existing treaties with China.

C.

Recognition by Russia of Korea and its littoral as being outside her sphere of interests.

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

The grounds for these amendments having been frequently and fully explained on previous occasions, the Imperial Government do not think it necessary to repeat the explanations. It is sufficient here to express their earnest hope for reconsideration by the Imperial Russian Government.

It should be further remarked that the suppression of the clause excluding the establishment of settlements in Manchuria is desired because it onflicts with stipulations of the new Commercial Treaty between Japan and China. In this respect, however, Japan will be satisfied if she receives equal treatment with another Power which has already acquired similar rights in regard to settlements in Manchuria. The statement in the Russian reply that the Japanese Government have agreed to the original wording of Article V of the Russian Counter-Proposals is erroneous, no such agreement ever having been expressed by the Imperial Government.

The above-mentioned amendments being proposed by the Imperial Government entirely in a spirit of conciliation, it is expected thad they will be received with the same spirit at the hands of the Imperial Russian Government; and the Imperial Government further hope for an early reply from the Imperial Russian Government since further delay in the solution of the question will be extremely disadvantageous to the two countries.

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Nr. 13190. JAPAN. - Komura an Kurino. Soll Lamsdorff um Antwort bitten.

Tokyo, January 23rd, 1904.

(Telegram.) || You are istructed to sound Count Lamsdorff respecting the probable nature of Russia's reply to our last note and when the reply will be delivered.

Nr. 13191. JAPAN. -Kurino an Komura. - Zeitpunkt der Antwort ist unsicher.

Petersburg. January 25 th, 1904. (Received, January 25th, 1904.) (Telegram.) || In reference to your telegram of 23rd inst., I saw Count Lamsdorff January 24th and asked his views in regard to our last proposals and also how soon the Russian answer could be given.

He was not inclined to enter into details, but said that there are certain points to which he could not agree. He expects to lay his views before the Emperor next Tuesday, January 26 th, and he hopes to be able to send an answer before long.

M. de Hartwig whom I saw this afternoon, told me that the Department of Foreign Affairs is yet in communication with Admiral Alexieff, and he cannot say how soon an answer can be sent to Japan.

Nr. 13192. JAPAN.-Komura an Kurino. -Ernste Aufforderung an Lamsdorff, die Verhandlungen zu beschleunigen.

Tokyo, January 26th, 1904. (Telegram.) || As the situation admits of no indefinite delay in the settlement of the questions involved, you will seek an interview with Count Lamsdorff at the earliest opportunity and state to him as an instruction from your Government that in the opinion of the Imperial Government a further prolongation of the present state of things being calculated to accentuate the gravity of the situation, it is their earnest hope that they will be honoured with an early reply, and that they wish to know at what time they may expect to receive the reply.

Nr. 13193. JAPAN. Kurino an Komura. Lamsdorff beschwert sich über japanische Rüstungen.

Petersburg, January 26th, 1904. (Received, January 27th, 1904.) (Telegram.) || In reference to your telegram of the 26th inst., the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the Ministers of War, Marine and other authorities concerned are to meet on the 28th January for the consideration of the question, and that their decision will be submitted to the Emperor for sanction, and he remarked that it had been the intention of Admiral Alexieff to come here; but that that idea was now abandoned, and his opinion will soon be received by telegraph. Under those circumstances, he says, he is unable to give the exact date when the reply will be given; but he can say it will not be much delayed. He said that he had received reports from official sources to the effect that Japan had sent a considerable number of troops, munitions and war materials to Korea, and asked me whether I could give any explanation regarding it. I simply answered that I knew nothing of such facts, and regretted not being able to give him any explanation.