Apr. 8 740 Same to same.. July 5 Same subject. Incloses a note from the minis- status of. Same subject. Incloses correspondence with stored. Same subject. Incloses message of the Presi- 849 853 849 854 854 856 850 858 858 859 859 8C0 851 851 851 Same subject. Reports that the assembly gen- 853 861 Arbitration of Venezuelan claims by mixed Same subject. Informs him of the appointment Same subject. Reports the appointment of the Same subject. Informs him of the designation Same subject. Informs him of the appointment Same subject. Informs him of the appointment 863 863 863 861 864 864 CORRESPONDENCE. CIRCULARS. PROTECTION OF PANAMAN INTERESTS BY CONSULAR OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES. Mr. Hay to Mr. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 19, 1904. SIR: I inclose for your information copy of a circular instruction to the consular officers of the United States, including those in the directing them to discharge, in representation of Panaman interests until consular officers are appointed by that Government, and so far as may be permitted by the Government of the duties ordinarily devolving upon consu the lar officers. You will advise the Government of the and request its consent to the arrangement. reques I am, etc., of this, JOHN HAY. [Inclosure.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 12, 1904. To the Consular Officers of the United States: GENTLEMEN: Upon the request of the Government of Panama you are instructed to use your good offices in representation of the interests of the Republic of Panama and its citizens until consular officers are appointed by that Government. You will be expected to discharge, so far as may be permitted by the Government to which you are accredited, the duties ordinarily devolving upon consular officers. In this connection your attention is called to paragraphs 174 and 453 of the Consular Regulations in relation to your standing under the instruction herein issued. The tariff of fees prescribed for services rendered by you under this instruction is as follows: For the certification of a manifest, 5 pesos. For the certification of an invoice, 2 pesos. For a bill of health, 2 pesos. All fees collected for services performed by you for Panama are to be retained. A copy of every paper and document certified should be transmitted a Same instruction, mutatis mutandi, to all diplomatic representatives of the United States. FR 1904 M- -1 1 to the minister for foreign affairs at the city of Panama, and a separate report of all such fees should be rendered to. this Department quarterly, the said returns to be plainly indicated as services performed for Panama, both upon the face of the return and on the indorsement thereof. Your signature in your official capacity on all papers executed for Panama should be followed by the words "In charge of the interests of Panama.” I am, etc., HERBERT H. D. PIERCE, NEUTRALITY OF CHINA IN THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN. Mr. Hay to Mr. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 20, 1904. SIR: After several days of conversation and correspondence with the representatives of the powers interested in Chinese affairs, the following note was sent, February 10, to the Governments of Russia, Japan, and China, and a copy of it was transmitted to all the powers signatory of the protocol of Peking, requesting each of them to make similar representations to Russia and Japan: You will express to the minister of foreign affairs the earnest desire of the Government of the United States that in the course of the military operations which have begun between Russia and Japan the neutrality of China and in all practicable ways her administrative entity shall be respected by both parties, and that the area of hostility shall be localized and limited as much as possible, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented and the least possible loss to the commerce and peaceful intercourse of the world may be occasioned. On the 13th of February the following answer was received from the Japanese Government, addressed to the American minister in Tokyo: In response to your note of the 12th instant on the subject of the neutrality of China during the existing war, I beg to say that the Imperial Government, sharing with the Government of the United States in the fullest measure the desire to avoid, as far as possible, any disturbance of the orderly condition of affairs now prevailing in China, are prepared to respect the neutrality and administrative entity of China outside the regions occupied by Russia as long as Russia, making a similar engagement, fulfills in good faith the terms and conditions of such engagement. On the 19th of February the following answer was received from the Russian Government: The Imperial Government shares completely the desire to insure tranquillity of China; is ready to adhere to an understanding with other powers for the purpose of safeguarding the neutrality of that Empire on the following conditions: Firstly. China must herself strictly observe all the clauses of neutrality. Secondly. The Japanese Government must loyally observe the engagements entered into with the powers, as well as the principles generally recognized by the law of nations. Thirdly. That it is well understood that neutralization in no case can be extended to Manchuria, the territory of which, by the force of events, will serve as the field of military operations. This instruction, mutatis mutandi, sent to all diplomatic representatives of the United States. |