[Inclosure 1.] Chargé Coolidge to Prince Ch'ing. AMERICAN LEGATION, YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS: I have the honor to state that I have this day received from the Department of State a print of a recent correspondence between the Russian ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State, concerning the observance of neutrality by China in the present war, together with the instructions sent to the American minister at Peking on the subject and the reply of the Chinese Government. Having been instructed to transmit a copy of the same to your imperial highness's government, I have the honor to inclose one herein, and at the same time I take the opportunity to renew, etc., JOHN GARDNER COOLIDGE. [Inclosure 2.] Prince Ch'ing to Chargé Coolidge. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 7th instant of your excellency's dispatch stating that you had received a letter from the Secretary of State directing you to send me a copy of the recent correspondence between the Russian ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State, concerning the observance of neutrality by China in the present war, together with the instructions sent to the American minister at Peking on the subject and the reply of the Chinese Government. In this matter of looking out for the general interest your honorable government is controlled by a motive of justice and China is enabled to maintain strictly her neutrality, besides receiving the opportunity to make a clear statement of all the facts in the case. We, prince and ministers, are indeed grateful and will remember the favor. I have the honor to state that the copy of the correspondence which you inclosed has been put upon record, and this reply is sent to your excellency with the request that you will transmit the information to the Secretary of State and extend to him our thanks. No. 1861.] Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, April 22, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Department's instruction No. 892, of March 9, transmitting a pro memoria sent by the Russian ambassador to the Department with regard to the neutrality of China and the restriction of the theater of military operations. I communicated this to the Chinese Government, as directed, and have just received a reply, in which China strenuously denies that she has failed to observe her duties as a neutral. A copy of the correspondence is inclosed. I have, etc., JOHN GARDNER COOLIDGE. [Inclosure 1.] Chargé Coolidge to Prince Ch'ing. AMERICAN LEGATION, YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS. I have the honor to inclose, for the information of your imperial highness, a copy of a translation of a pro memoria sent to the Department of State at Washington by the Russian ambassador on the 2d of March last, calling attention to an alleged renewal of activity on the part of bands of Chinese in Mongolia directed against the Russians, and repeating the statement of the intention of the Russian Government to restrict in future the theater of military operations provided the powers interested take measures to oblige China and Japan to renounce the idea of enlarging the sphere of military operations and especially to avoid carefully the carrying of the war into the provinces east of Mongolia. JOHN GARDNER COOLIDGE. I avail myself, etc., [Inclosure 2.] Prince Ch'ing to Chargé Coolidge. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 15th of the third moon of this year (April 19, 1905) of your excellency's dispatch, stating that you had received from the Department of State a copy of a pro memoria handed to the Department by the Russian ambassador at Washington, and which called attention to the renewal of activity on the part of bands of Chinese in Mongolia directed against the Russians, and repeated the intention of the Russian Government to restrict in future the theater of military operations, provided the powers interested would take steps to oblige China and Japan to renounce the idea of enlarging the sphere of military operations, and especially to avoid carefully carrying the war into the provinces east of Mongolia. Your excellency said, further, that you felt it to be your duty to send a copy for my information. As to this matter: At the beginning of hostilities between Japan and Russia my board, on the 27th of the twelfth moon of the twenty-ninth year of Kuanghsü (February 12, 1904), sent dispatches to the various powers, clearly stating that the region west of the Liao River, from which Russia had already withdrawn her troops in accordance with treaty provisions, and Inner and Outer Mongolia would all be treated as within the area of neutrality, and that the belligerents must not encroach upon them, etc., all of which the records will show. As to Mongolia: Instructions have been sent repeatedly to the colonial office strictly enjoining upon it that no bandits should be allowed to pass out or come in. As to the theater of war in the Manchurian provinces, both Russia and Japan have enlisted bandits, and if a destruction of railway bridges is the result, it is in a region to which China's military forces may not penetrate, and it is difficult for us to show any partiality in our prohibitions. As a matter of course, China can not be held responsible. The regiments of the forces of the superintendent of trade for the North (Yuan Shih-k'ai) are all stationed in Chihli and are strictly observing the (neutrality) regulations. Moreover, they are far from the theater of military operations, and how can it be said that they are giving any assistance? This is merely conjecture on the part of Russia. As to restricting the area of hostilities and thus lessening the injuries to be suffered by the inhabitants of the country, it is what China most desires. As to the matter of the belligerents not entering the region east of Mongolia, west of the Liao River, my board, as occasion has offered, has uniformly forbidden it and from first to last has observed its obligations in this respect. Now that I have received the copy of the pro memoria which your excellency has sent, I take advantage of the occasion to make another clear statement and to thank your Department of State on behalf of myself and the ministers of my board for its kind concern. I send this dispatch to your excellency for your information, and trust that you will forward it, for which I shall be grateful. A necessary dispatch. Kuanghsü, XXXI year, 3d moon, 17th day (April 21, 1905). [SEAL.] The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Coolidge. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 28, 1905. (Mr. Loomis informs Mr. Coolidge that representations have been made by the Japanese Government that the Russian war vessels interned at Shanghai are being prepared for active service, and that the Chinese Government can prevent violation of its neutrality if so disposed; that the Japanese Government believes itself fully justified in order to protect itself, to take all necessary measures. Instructs him to bring the gravity of the situation to the attention of the Chinese Government, and to urge it to take every proper effort for the maintenance of its neutrality.) Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, April 28, 1905. (Mr. Coolidge reports that the Japanese minister has informed him that, according to reports received by him, the Russian war vessels interned at Shanghai have been secretely preparing for active service. Upon inquiry, the vice consul-general at Shanghai reports that reliable information proves the reports without foundation.) The Chinese Minister to the Secretary of State. IMPERIAL CHINESE LEGATION, MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I have just received a telegram from the Waiwu Pu, of which the following is a translation: Chinese Minister LIANG, Washington. PEKING, May 1, 1905. Your telegram of April 29 is received. It was rumored that the Russian war vessels at Shanghai were making secret preparations for their escape. Repeated orders were sent by telegraph to the viceroy at Nanking to dispatch additional war vessels to assist the taot'ai of Shanghai in preventing any such attempt. At the same time a strong protest was sent to the Russian minister. You will communicate the above to the Secretary of State and convey to him the thanks of the Imperial Government for his friendly interest in the matter. WAIWU PU. I take pleasure in sending you the above telegram for your information. I am, etc., CHENTUNG LIANG-CHANG. Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. Coolidge transmits the reply of China to Department's telegram of April 28, 1905, which states that the Chinese foreign office some time ago, upon hearing reports that the Russian vessels interned at Shanghai were planning to put to sea, sent telegrams repeatedly directing the viceroy at Nanking to investigate the matter. The viceroy reported that the condition of the Russian war vessels was unchanged since the removal of their machinery; that he (the viceroy) had detailed additional war vessels to watch, and that strict and secret protective measures were being taken, no remissness being shown. The foreign office had also asked the Russian minister to instruct, by telegraph, the Russian war vessels at Shanghai that on no account should they attempt such a thing. The foreign office adds that it is China's desire and for the interest of all nations that its neutrality should not be violated, and that the government of that country is observing strict neutrality and will certainly use every exertion to discharge its responsibility. The Chinese Government is grateful to the Government of the United States for its kind concern in the matter.) No. 1876.] Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, May 4, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to report that on April 27 the Japanese minister handed me a pro memoria with regard to certain alleged preparations of the Russian war vessels interned at Shanghai for active service. He also stated that his government had made representations on the subject to the American and British Governments. I immediately telegraphed to Mr. Davidson, in Shanghai, for information, and on receipt of his reply wired to the Department, as confirmed below. Pro memoria from the Japanese Minister at Peking. According to a report received on the 18th of April the landing of the officers and crew of the Russian war vessels now under detention at Shanghai had been stopped from the preceding day. The deficiency in the officers and crew, it is stated, is to be supplemented from those who are present there after release on parole at Port Arthur, and every preparation is made for putting them to sea at any moment. It was also reported on the same day that in case the Russian vessels effect their escape from Shanghai they are to be guided down to Wusung by a Russian training ship now at that port, thence to be piloted by Russian officers through a north passage, which they had hitherto been carefully investigating for that purpose. On the 19th instant it was reported on a reliable authority that the Askold was obtaining on the 17th instant vent pieces, breechblocks, and other things from William Holliday, a British machinery agent. On the same day it was also reported from a reliable informant that the furnace of the Manjour had been working in full order after midnight of the 16th instant and that there was also no less activity of the same sort on board the Askold, sounds of hammers being heard throughout the same night. On the 20th instant the Askold was taking on board 300 tons of Cardiff coal besides 1,000 tons of coal which are already kept in her bunkers. [Inclosure 2.] Chargé Coolidge to Prince of Ch'ing. AMERICAN LEGATION, YOUR IMPERIAL HIGHNESS: I am directed by my government to inform your imperial highness that the Japanese Government represented that the Russians are preparing for active service the war vessels interned at Shanghai, a violation of neutrality which the Chinese Government is able to prevent if so disposed; that the Japanese Government having tried in vain to make China realize her sense of responsibility, believes it will be fully justified in taking all necessary measures in order to protect itself against the constant danger arising from practically warlike preparations of the interned vessels. I am further instructed to point out to your imperial highness the gravity of the situation and to urge that no proper effort be spared by the Chinese Government to maintain its neutrality. I seize the opportunity, etc., [Inclosure 3.1 JOHN GARDNer Collidge. Prince of Ch'ing to Chargé Coolidge. On the 26th of the 3d moon of this year [April 30, 1905] I had the honor to receive a dispatch from your excellency, stating that the Japanese Government had represented to your government that the Russians were preparing for active service their vessels interned at Shanghai, a direct violation of neutrality which the Chinese Government could prevent if so disposed, and that Japan would feel fully justified in taking all necessary measures to protect itself against the constant danger arising from the practically warlike preparations of the interned Russian vessels; that the situation is very grave, and you urge my governernment to spare no effort to maintain its neutrality. As to this matter sometime ago my board, hearing it reported that the Russian war vessels interned at Shanghai were scheming to put to sea, sent telegrams repeatedly to the superintendent of trade for the south, instructing him to direct his subordinates concerned to investigate and learn the facts, and received a reply [stating that] the Russian war vessels were in no different condition from that after the removal of parts of their machinery; that additional war vessels had already been detailed [to watch] and in concert with the custom taot'ai were taking strict and secret protective measures; that not the slightest remissness was being shown. Moreover my board sent a dispatch to the Russian minister [asking him] to instruct the Russian war vessels at Shanghai on no account to attempt such a thing. Shanghai is a busy commercial port, and it is China's earnest desire and for the general interest as well that the belligerent nations should avoid any violation [of its neutrality]; China is observing strict neutrality, and will most certainly exert herself to devise means to fully discharge her responsibilities. I have to thank the American Government for its kind concern, and, as in duty bound, I send this reply for your excellency's information and that you may transmit the same. A necessary dispatch. Kuanghsü, XXXI year, 3d moon, 28th day [May 2, 1905]. [SEAL.] Chargé Coolidge to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, (Mr. Coolidge reports that the Chinese Government, in order to prevent the supply of coal to belligerent war vessels, requires shippers of coal from Shanghai to record guarantees at their consulates that a receipt for the shipment will reach the Shanghai customs authorities from the port of destination within forty days, under a penalty of five times the value of the cargo. This requirement was caused by the unusual form adopted for rapid handling of coal recently shipped from Shanghai, which aroused suspicion. Upon request he informed the consul-general at Shanghai. Mr. Coolidge asks instructions.) |