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Nr. 13114. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Peking an

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den Minister des Ausw. Die mandschurischen

Häfen werden nach der Räumung geöffnet.

Peking, August 10, 1903. (August 10.)

(Telegraphic.) || Prince Ching informs me that a promise has been given by China to America that as soon as the evacuation of Manchuria has been carried out the ports will be opened. || The Prince has repeatedly sent to Russian Minister pressing that evacuation should be carried out. immediately, and instructions have now been sent to Chinese Minister at St. Petersburgh that a representation in the same sense should again be sent in to the Russian Government.

Nr. 13115. RUSSLAND.

Ukas über Errichtung einer Statthalterschaft im fernen Osten.

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Vu les problèmes complexes de l'administration dans les confins orientaux de l'Empire, nous trouvons nécessaire l'institution d'un pouvoir apte à assurer le développement pacifique du pays et à satisfaire les besoins locaux urgents. Ayant par conséquent jugé bon que les territoires de l'Amour et de Kouantoun forment dorénavant une lieutenance spéciale, nous ordonnons, savoir:

1. Notre Lieutenant en Extrême-Orient est revêtu du pouvoir suprême en tout ce qui concerne l'administration civile du pays qui lui est confié, et cette administration est affranchie de la juridiction des Ministères. Au Lieutenant Impérial est également conféré le pouvoir suprême pour le maintien de l'ordre et de la sécurité dans la zone du Chemin de Fer de l'Est Chinois, ainsi que le soin de pourvoir aux besoins de la population Russe dans les possessions limitrophes au delà de la lieutenance Impériale. 2. Jusqu'à la promulgation d'une loi sur l'administration des territoires d'Extrême-Orient, les limites des pouvoirs du Lieutenant Imperial, ses droits et ses obligations tant envers les institutions supérieures que vis-à-vis des in stitutions locales, seront déterminés d'après les principes généraux exposés dans le Rescrit Impérial du 30 Janvier, 1845, donné à l'occasion de l'institution d'une lieutenance au Caucase. Les institutions et fonctionnaires de l'État soumis au Lieutenant Impérial ne pourront se mettre en rapport avec les Ministères et les Administrations générales autrement que par l'intermédiaire du Lieutenant Impérial. || 3. Dans les mains du Lieutenant Impérial en Extrême-Orient est concentré le service des rela

tions diplomatiques concernant les affaires de ces territoires avec les États voisins. || 4. Au Lieutenant Imperial est confié le commandement des forces navales dans le Pacifique et de toutes les troupes cantonnées dans le pays soumis à sa juridiction. || 5. Afin que les dispositions à prendre par l'autorité supérieure en Extrême-Orient concordent avec les vues du Pouvoir Central et l'activité des Ministères, il sera institué, sous notre présidence, un Comité Spécial composé de personnes que notre confiance appellera à ces fonctions. || 6. L'Aide-de-camp, Général Alexeieff, que nous nommons en même temps notre Lieutenant en Extrême-Orient, est chargé, en développant nos indications, d'élaborer des projets de loi sur l'administration des territoires d'Extrême-Orient et de les soumettre à notre approbation.

Le Sénat dirigeant est chargé de pourvoir au nécessaire pour l'exécution de ce qui précède. Nicolas..

(Signé)

Nr. 13116. VEREINIGTE STAATEN. - Der Botschafter in London an den englischen Minister des Ausw. China hat die Öffnung der mandschurischen Häfen versprochen.

American Embassy, London, August 20, 1903. (August 21.) My Lord, I have the honour, under instructions from the Secretary of State to advise you, for the information of His Majesty's Government, that the Chinese Government has formally promised to sign, on the 8th October, a Treaty of Commerce, one section of which provides for the opening of the ports of Moukden and Ta-Tung-Kau to foreign Joseph H. Choate.

commerce.

Nr. 13117. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Gesandte in Peking an den Minister des Ausw. Rußland stellt neue Be

dingungen. Peking, September 9, 1903. (September 9.) (Telegraphic.) || I am informed by Prince Ching that fresh proposals have been made by the Russian Minister. These include:

1. Appointment to the Newchwang Sanitary Board of a Russian doctor. || 2. Duties on goods imported by the Chinese Eastern Railway to be no higher than those on goods imported by road. || 3. That at the two ports to be opened in Manchuria, no foreign Concessions or Settlements should be created. || 4. That the Russians should establish poststations between Kirin and Tsitsi-har (Prince has probably made a mistake

here, and means Tsitsi-har and Blagovestchensk). || 5. Permission to be given to the Russians to construct wharves on the Sungari River, and station troops for their protection. | If the Chinese Government accept these proposals, the rest of Moukden to be evacuated on the 8th October, Heilung Chiang in twelve months, and Kirin in four. || Prince thinks that the negotiations will be lengthy; but he has made a counterproposal that these periods should be reduced to four and two months respectively. || He explained that the acceptance of condition I would not prevent the appointment of doctors of other nationalities as well as the Russian; and that condition 3, would not hinder the acquisition of land for building purposes by foreigners. With regard to condition 5, his Highness' reply to Russian Minister is that China has no objection to the construction. of the wharves, but that her own troops would protect them; and with regard to 4, that post-stations will be re-established by China herself. || I warned Prince Ching that he must exercise care and not concede any conditions by which the Treaty rights of other Powers might be interfered with.

Nr. 13118. JAPAN. Der Gesandte in London an den englischen Minister des Ausw. Denkschrift über die russischen Forderungen.

September 11, 1903.

I. Assurances shall be given by China to the effect that the three Manchurian provinces shall never be ceded to any other Power, and that no piece of land in those provinces shall be pledged, leased, or disposed of in any way whatever. || II. In view of the fact that the main roads. between Tsitsi-har, Mergen, and Blagovestchensk, as well as the waterway of the River Sungari, are particularly important for the access of merchandise from the various regions of Manchuria to the Chinese Eastern Railway lines, Russia shall construct wharves at several points along the Sungari, and she shall also station number of troops necessary for the protection of the telegraph lines along the river as well as of the ships plying the river. || Russia shall also establish stations at various points along the roads between Tsitsi-har, Mergen, and Blagovestchensk. || III. Upon goods conveyed by the railway no specially heavy duty shall be imposed. The duties imposed upon goods conveyed into Manchuria by railway from one station to another shall not be heavier than those for goods transported overland or by waterway. IV. Upon the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Manchuria, the branch offices of the

Russo-Chinese Bank in various parts of Manchuria shall be protected by the troops of the Djun-djun; the expenses for the stationing of those troops to be defrayed by the said Bank. | V. In order to prevent the importation of plague from Newchwang, Chinese authorities shall take measures necessary for that purpose after the plan adopted in Shanghae and Tien-tsin. Within the territories appertaining to the Chinese Eastern Railway, Russia shall adopt necessary measures. || In order to secure an accord between the steps which may be taken respectively by Russian and Chinese authorities for the above, a Russian physician shall be employed in the place where Taotai has charge of those precautionary measures. Japanese Legation, September 11, 1903.

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Nr. 13119. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Tokio an den Minister des Ausw. Japan sieht in den neuen russischen Forderungen eine Verletzung der „Offenen Tür."

Tôkiô, September 15, 1903. (September 15.)

(Telegraphic.) || I have been shown by Baron Komura the full text of the Russian demands referred to by Sir E. Satow in his telegram of 9th September. The following is a paraphrase of the first paragraph: — || „Assurance shall be given by China that she will never cede the three Manchurian provinces to any foreign Power, and that in those provinces no piece of land, great or small, shall be pledged, leased, or in any manner whatsoever disposed of." || This demand and the one respecting the Sungari River wharves are, in the opinion of the Japanese Government, in entire opposition to the principle of the open door, and their Representative at Peking has been instructed to oppose the new set of demands. || Up till now Japanese public opinion, as voiced in the more respectable section of the press, has been calm, but it has assumed an almost violent character since the publication of the Russian demands. I have repeated the above to Sir E. Satow.

Nr. 13120. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Gesandte in Peking an den Minister des Ausw. China hat die Räumung verlangt.

Peking, September 25, 1903. (September 25.) (Telegraphic.) P. || Manchuria. I asked Prince Ching how the negotiations were proceeding. He replied that he had written to the Russian Minister refusing the demands, and reminding him that by a solemn Con

vention between Plenipotentiaries, ratified by the two Sovereigns, Russia was bound to evacuate second portion on 8th April and the last portion on 8th October. When the evacuation was completed in accordance therewith, China would discuss any international matters requiring settlement. He enlarged to me on the impossibility of conceding permission to station troops along Sungari and post road from Tsitsi-har to Blagovestchensk, and said if China conceded demands and Russia then nominally withdrew, latter would still be in virtual possession of the country.

Nr. 13121. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Gesandte in Tokio an den Minister des Ausw. Japan wünscht die Ansicht Englands über die russischen Forderungen zu erfahren.

Tókiô, September 27, 1903. (September 27.) (Telegraphic.) | With reference to my telegram of the 15th instant on the subject of the new demands put forward by Russia in connection with the Manchurian question, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, in the opinion of the Japanese Government, the non-alienation demand will prevent the formation of foreign settlements in the new Treaty ports, although the demand has no reference to individuals, but applies solely to Powers. || The Minister for Foreign Affairs has on several occasions inquired whether your Lordship has expressed any opinion concerning the new demands. I replied to his Excellency that the policy of His Majesty's Government respecting the open-door policy in China has in no way changed, and that therefore an expression of opinion from your Lordship was hardly necessary.

Nr. 13122. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Tokio. Antwort auf das vorige.

Foreign Office, September 30, 1903.

(Telegraphic.) || Evacuation of Manchuria: Your telegram of the 27th September. || It appear to His Majesty's Government that there are objectionable features in the new conditions proposed by Russia, but we are unable to express a definite opinion from the information at our disposal, which is not sufficiently precise or authentic. For instance, we are in the dark as to the alleged demands of Russia for the control of the Customs, and it is doubtful what is the true interpretation of the

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