290
THE JAPANESE WHITE-BOOK.
(Daily Press, 11th April.)
ment of affairs in Manchuria and at Russias'
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[April 18, 1904..
would also be absent from S. Petersburg. | and that he would telegraph them to his Go In spite of Mr. KURINO's objection, Count verninent. Baron KOMURA, informing Mr. LAMSDORFF insisted upon his proposition, KURINO of this, asked him to explain that By the courtesy of the Japanese Consul we and so Mr. KURINO telegraphed to Tokyo Japan could not understand the reason for have received a copy of the Japanese official that he thought it hardly possible to change excluding China from the engagement, as Correspondence regarding the negotiations the course proposed by Russia. Baron Russia proposed. On the 2nd November between Japan and Russia (1903-1904). KOMURA replied, by telegram, that Japan the Japanese Minister saw Count LAMB- The document is a translation and is pre- still thought that negotiation would be DORFF's deputy, who started by saying that, seuted very much in the form of British facilitated if continued in S. Petersburg, in his personal opinion, Japan was making Blue-books. Fifty-one telegraphic des since principles, not details, were concerned. the same demands as before, and that they patches in all are given, and all are either On the 31st August, Count LAMSDORFF, were too great; he added that the Count addressed by Baron KOMURA at Tokyo to having had this communicated to him, would return to S. Petersburg at the end of Mr. KURINO, Japanese Minister at S. replied that "principles must be decided the week. On the 12th of the month Count Petersburg, or vice-versa. They coutain, upon examination of local and practical | LAMSDORFF himself received Mr. KURINO, however, the text of all the Japanese pro- questions and continued to press for the whom he told that Baron RosEN had been posals and the Russian counter-proposals. transference to Tokyo. He said that he ordered by the Tear to examine Japan's last From a perusal of them the series of delays would be long absent from S. Petersbung proposal with Admiral ALEXIEFF and make which ultimately caused Japan to "reserve during the autumn, in attendance upon the modification if necessary. He also told him the right to take independent action" can be Tsar. In case of negotiations aɩ Tokyo he that Russia's objection related rather to the clearly traced. It was on the 28th July could direct them by telegraph, wherever form than to the substance of Japan's pre- last that Baron KOMURA's long telegram, he went; at S. Petersburg he would be posal, whereon Mr. KURINO readably which forms the first item in the Cories-abliged to attend to the matter personally replied that it was deeply to be regretted if pondence, was sent from Tokyo, setting with M. KURINO, On the 2nd September | an understanding could not be reached forth Japan's grave concern at the devolop. Baron KOMURA telegraphed that the Japa- merely because of the failure to find a suitable nese Government feared that discussion formula to bring the Russian and Japanese increased activity along the Coreau frontier, would be greatly protracted if negotiations Governments to an arrangement. On the Mr. KURING was instructed to hand Count, were at this stage to be transferred to Tokyo 20th November Baron RoSEN informed LAMSDORFF a Note Verbale, in which was without some accepted basis for negotia- Baron KOMURA that Admiral ALEXIEFF expressed the Japanese Government's wish tious, and he asked that the Russian had already forwarded the counter-proposala to enter with the Russian Government upon Government should announce whether to S. Petersburg, but that he (Baron ROSEN) examination of the condition of affairs, with the Japanese proposals could in principle had not yet received any instructions on the a view to a definition of the respectiv be accepted as that basis. Mr. KURING subject. Mr. KURINO was told to represent special interest of Japan and Russia in the saw Count LAMSDORFF again on the Japan's anxiety for "all possible ex- Extreme East. Mr. KURING was furter 5th September, when
Mr. KURINO pedition." Unhappily the Tsarina's ear nstructed to make Count LAMSDORFF une: urged him as instructed, and "a rather became inflamed at this juncture, and the derstand that Japan attached great impor- prolonged discussion followed. Count Tsar, though he had in his hands' the tance to the subject. The Japanese Minister ¦ LAMSDORFF explained that Baron ROSEN modifications proposed by Admiral carried out his instructions on the 31st July. had been already commanded to prepare and ALEXIEFF, could not attend to any Count LAMEDORFF said that he was in elaborate counter-proposals in consultation business. Count LAMSDORFF Was to perfect accord with the view of the Japanese i with Admiral ALEXIEFF, and, if the Japa- have had audience of the Tsar on the 25th Goverument that an understanding was nese Government were willing to enter into November, but the Tsarina's sickness.con- desirable, but he wished to see the Tsar negotiation, to commence immediately the tinued, and when he received Mr. Kurino before a definite answer was given. On the pourparlers, adopting the Japanese proposals on the 3rd December he was still without 3rd August Baron KOMURA telegraphed and Russian counter-proposals as basis of that audience. Indeed he explained that Japanese's proposed basis of an understand- | negotiations. Iu Mr. KURINO'S telegram in Saturday was the fete of the Crown Prince, ing, the main points of which were a mutual which be described the interview, be made no business is transacted on Sunday, and engagement to respect the independence and it plain that he thought Japau must give he would be occupied with other affairs on teritorial integrity of China and Corea and way in the matter of the transference to Monday." He expected the audience on Corea and a reciprocal recognition of Japan's Tokyo. Accordingly on the 9th September Tuesday, and promised to let the Japanese preponderating interests in Corea and Japan consented to the transfer. Count. Minister know the result the next day. We Russia's special railway interests in Man- LAMSDORFF was informed the same day, when find nothing about this audience in the Cor- churia. On the 5th August Count LAMS-he said that Baron Rosen and Admiral respondence, but Mr. KURINO wrote on the DORFF stated that he was authorised by the ALEXIEPF had already been instructed to 9th December that he had been told that Tar to open negotiations with Mr. KURINO prepare counter-proposals
soon as day by Count LAMSDORFF that an Im- on the subject of the Note Verbale On the possible. On the 22nd September Baron perial order had been sent to Admiral 12th of the same mouth Mr. KURINO tele. ROSEN left Tokyo for Port Arthur; it will ALEXIEFF and Baron ROSEN to graphed that Count LAMSDORFF, being very
continue negotiations in accordance with much occupied, could not receive him till
the counter-proposals of the Admiral; that day, when be handed to him Japan's
Russia's, propositions would be officially proposals, in accordance with his instruc-
communicated in two or three days. On the tious. Count LAMSDORFF raid that he
11th December, accordingly, Baron RoSEN would "examine the project with care,"
called on Baron KOMURA and presented and it was uot. till the 23rd August
Russia's new counter-proposals to Japan's that he received Mr. KURINO next. Then he
definitive amendments of the 30th October, said that he bad studied the project
Practically Russia made no change of seriously, but that, the Emperor having
attitude, still leaving China out of the agree been absent over a week
ment (the word “Manchuria was not even mentioned) and fixing a neutral zone in Corea alone. Baron KOMURA patiently replied, on the 26th December, that he hoped the Russian Government would reconsider is position with regard to the inclusion in the proposed understanding of all regions in the Extreme East where the interests of the Empires met; and he sent to Mr. KURINO a Note Verbale to hand to Count LAMSDORFF, amending Russin's latest pro- posals, but not in erting any specific state- went about China or Manchuria. 23rd December the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that he would do his best to send the Russian answer at the earliest possible date; and, on the 1st January, that Baron RosEN would soon be instructed to proceed with the negotiations in a friendly and conciliatory spirit. Ou the 6th Russia's reply was handed in a
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remembered that a slight sensation was caused by this fact at the time. no one outside Government eireks knowing the reason, He returned on the 3rd Octuber bringing Russia's counter-proposals to Japan's proposals of the 3rd August.
The main lines of these proposals, which were stated to be sanctioned by the Tsar, were the mutual engagement to respect the independence and territorial integrity of Corea (only), while instituting a neutral of the manoeuvres, he had been unable to zone in Corea north of the 39th parallel, take any steps in the matter." He also and the recognition by Japan of Manchuria asked Mr. KURING's opinion about trans- and its litt ral as in all respects outside her ferring negotiations to Tokyo, "as there sphere of influence. Japan began discussion, were many details which would have to be taking the two sets of proposals as the basis, referred to Admiral ALEXIEFF 31
to whom but immediately presented amendments to he had already sent a copy of the Japanese Russia's suggestions, reintroducing the project, he mentioned. Barou KOMURA matter of China's sovereignty and territorial telegraphed on the 26th August tha. Japan integrity in Manchuria and extending the would prefer to continue negotiations in neutral zone on both sides of the Corean S. Petersburg, believing that the work Manchurian frontier. Russia accepted the would be greatly facilitated thereby, and latter proposal ad referendum, but re used he pressed for a reply to the proposals. to entertain the other. On the 30th October Next day Mr. KURINO Saw Count LAMS- Baron KOMURA presented to the Russian DORFF, who told him that the Tsar had Minister at Tokyo Japan's definite amend expressed his wish for a transference of ments to Russia's counter-proposals, which negotiations to Tokyo, "so as to expedite; were really only a restatement in more matters"; he added that the Tsar was leav-regular form of the first amendments. Next ing S. Petersburg for foreign countries next day Baron ROSEN called and stated that the week and that the Ministers concerned amendments were beyond his instructions,
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