ROUMANIA. JEWS IN ROUMANIA.α Mr. Wilson to Mr. Hay. No. 93. Roumanian series.] AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that under the title of "New attitude of the London Israelites," the semiofficial "Indépendence Roumaine," publishes extracts in French from certain Jewish newspapers of London, which speak of the better relations now existing in Rouinania between the Jews and Christians; the increase in the number of Jews naturalized; the more humane manner of enforcing the anti-Jewish laws, as well as the fact that no further laws of this nature have been proposed; and also the almost complete cessation of the expulsion of Jews from the rural communes. The report of Major Evans-Gordon to the Alien Immigration Commission is referred to, and in view of the improved condition of things the Jewish newspapers advise against any measures from outside in behalf of the Roumanian Jews. SIR: I have the honor to report that shortly before its adjournment, the Roumanian Parliament passed an act "For the regulation and consolidation of the right to exploit private petroleum lands, etc." The original bill had been introduced by Mr. Stoicesco, the minister of domain, about the middle of last March. Its object appears to be the controlling of the granting of concessions by private persons to other persons or to corporations, native or foreign, and under it a commission is created to decide as to the admissibility of any proposed concessions. The text of the new law has just been published in the official "Monitorul," No. 31, of the 9th (22d) instant, in Roumanian. Í have, etc., * * * a See Foreign Relations 1903, p. 702 et seq. JOHN. B. JACKSON. See dispatch No. 63, November 15, 1903, printed in Foreign Relations, 1903, p. 706. In regard to the development of the petroleum industry in Roumania, the Government appears to be constantly on its guard in order to prevent anything of the nature of a trust. The recently enacted measure regarding concessions to exploit private petroleum lands (dispatch No. 97, of the 27th ultimo) will, it is said, more or less guarantee the holdings, and will help put an end to the practice of leasing these lands several times over, which has prevailed to a certain extent. No objection seems to have been raised to it as yet. New rules have been made in regard to the petroleum reservoirs at Constantza, which are under government control and which have just begun to be used. All petroleum exported from Constantza must pass through these reservoirs, and, in order to prevent the squeezing out of small producers, a regulation has been made prescribing the reservation of at least one reservoir for the common use of producers whose business is not sufficient to warrant their having a reservoir for their sole use. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. RUSSIA. DIFFICULTY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN. [NOTE. Continuation of correspondence in Foreign Relations, 1903, p. 708 et seq.] Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, (Mr. McCormick reports that he has been informed by the Japanese minister that he had a satisfactory interview with the minister for foreign affairs, and that the latter gave the assurance that the Russian reply to the Japanese counter proposals would be sent to Tokyo in a few days and that it would be of a conciliatory nature.) Mr. Loomis to Mr. McCormick. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 6, 1904. (Mr. Loomis informs Mr. McCormick that, according to a telegram from the American minister at Tokyo, it seems that the Japanese Government has decided that it has waited longer for an answer from the Russian Government than is reasonable. Asks whether he has any knowledge of the reply of the Russian Government to the Japanese counter proposals.) Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, (Mr. McCormick reports that the Japanese minister informed him that, although he had no positive knowledge of the Russian reply, the Russian minister for foreign affairs had informed him that a reply had been sent, and had stated to him, as his own view, that the following conditions should be accepted by Japan: 1. Guaranty of Korean integrity. 2. Free and unfortified passage through the straits between Korea and Japan. 3. The neutral zone in Korea as already defined. 4. No stipulations concerning Manchuria. He was further informed that the reply had been sent to Admiral Alexieff and the latter had been given authority to modify it as the exigencies of the situation might demand. Mr. McCormick states that the Japanese minister has asked for his passports and will probably leave to-night.) Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, February 8, 1904. (Mr. McCormick reports that he has been informed by the minister for foreign affairs that the Russian minister at Tokyo had the Russian reply when the Japanese minister asked for his passports.) RUSSIAN EMBASSY, Washington, February 10, 1904. Translation of a telegram from Count Lamsdorff of the 9th of February, 1904, left at the Department by the Russian ambassador. In the night 27th January [9th February], a detachment of Japanese torpedo boats unexpectedly attacked the Russian squadron lying at anchor in the outer roadstead of the fortress of Port Arthur. This attack being a beginning of military operations it obliges the Imperial Government to take immediate measures to reply by armed force to the challenge thrown at Russia. Please inform the Government to which you are accredited. No. 84.] Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, February 19, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a translation of a communication published in yesterday's Official Messenger, relating to the situation in the Far East. I have, etc., ROBERT S. MCCORMICK. [Inclosure.-Translation.] [From the Official Messenger, St. Petersburg, January 27/February 9, 1904.] A GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION. During the past year the Tokyo cabinet, under the pretense of establishing equality (equilibrium) and a better order of things on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, applied to the Imperial Government with the proposal of revising the existing treaties upon Korean affairs, to which Russia expressed consent. With imperial sanction, in view of the establishment at the time of a viceroyalty in the Far East, the formation of a project of a new treaty with Japan was placed under the management of Lieutenant-General Alexieff with the collaboration of the Russian minister in Tokyo, whose duty it was to conduct negotiations with the Japanese Government. Notwithstanding the fact that in August last friendly views were exchanged on the subject between the two Governments, as is known, Japanese social circles and local, as well as the foreign press of every sort (bcirrecku), tried to arouse warlike feeling among the Japanese and to instill the Government to an armed struggle with Russia. Under the influence of these circumstances the Tokyo cabinet became more and more exacting in its negotiations, taking at the same time the most extreme measures to prepare the country for war. Of course these circumstances combined could not disturb the peace of Russia, but obliged her on her part to make corresponding military-naval preparations. Nevertheless, animated with the earnest desire to maintain peace in the Far East as far as her unquestionable rights and interests permitted, Russia with careful consideration accepted the declarations of the Tokyo Government and expressed her readiness to recognize the preponderant commercial-economic situation of Japan on the Korean peninsula, including the resort to armed forces in case of trouble in the country. At the same time, however, strictly keeping to the basis of her original policy with regard to Korea, namely, Korea's independence and territorial integrity, which were guaranteed by preceding treaties with Japan, as well as in the treaties with other powers, Russia could but demand 1. The mutual and absolute guaranty of the first-named stipulation; 2. The obligation not to make use of any point on Korean territory for strategetical purposes, as any infringement of this clause on the part of any power whatsoever would be contrary to the principal of the independence of Korea, and, finally, 3. The maintenance of full freedoni to navigate through the Gulf of Korea. The project elaborated in this sense did not, however, receive the assent of the Japanese Government, which in its last proposals not only declined to accept such conditions, which appeared as a guaranty of the independence of Korea, but at the same time began to demand the inclusion in the said project of questions pertaining to Manchuria. Such interference on the part of Japan could not, of course, be permitted. The question of the situation of Russia in Manchuria belongs first of all to China itself, and secondly to all the powers having commercial interests with the Celestial Empire; in consequence of this the Imperial Government most decidedly did not see fit to include in a separate treaty with Japan on Korean affairs any stipulation whatever referring to the districts occupied by Russian forces. The Imperial Government at the same time does not refuse to recognize, during the time of the military occupation of Manchuria, the Chinese authorities as supreme power in these districts, as well as the privileges which the powers have obtained through treaties concluded by them with China, with regard to which proper declarations were made to the foreign cabinets. In view of this the Imperial Government, in instructing its representative in Tokyo to transmit its reply to the last Japanese proposal, had a right to expect that the Tokyo cabinet would take into consideration the importance of the above formulated views and would value the desire of Russia to arrive at a . peaceful understanding with Japan. The Japanese Government nevertheless, without waiting for any reply, has decided to break off negotiations and to discontinue diplomatic relations with Russia. |