tude with which I accept this honor, subject to the superior sanction of the Congress as prescribed by our Constitution and statutes, and of my high sense of this tribute to the endeavors of the American Government and people to promote the ends of peace. JOHN HAY. Mr. Hay to Mr. Porter. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, This morning I received a note from the chargé d'affaires of France informing me of the action of the Government of the Republic in conferring upon me the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. I have replied that, waiving all individual considerations, I sincerely appreciate the sentiment which has moved the French Government to take this signal method of testifying in my person its appreciation of the efforts which, in the name of my country and as the exponent of the earnest wishes of the President and of my fellow-citizens in behalf of peace, it has been my duty and privilege to exert in furtherance of international concord and good will. In advising you of this I have to request you to express to the Government of the Republic the gratitude with which I accept this honor, subject to the superior sanction of the Congress as prescribed by our Constitution and statutes, and of my high sense of this tribute to the endeavors of the American Government and people to promote peace among the nations. JOHN HAY. ABDUCTION OF ION PERDICARIS BY BANDITS IN MOROCCO. (Note. See also under Great Britain, p. 338, and Morocco, p. 496.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Porter. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Porter to request the good offices of the French Government in the Perdicaris matter.) Mr. Porter to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, (Mr. Porter advises that he has complied with Department's instructions of the 28th instant, and that the minister for foreign affairs at once instructed the French minister at Tangier to cooperate by all possible means in the rescue of Perdicaris, to urge the Sultan to action, and to engage the services of certain religious families of influence who have heretofore been useful in similar affairs.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Porter. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Porter to convey to the minister for foreign affairs the deep appreciation of the President of the kindly and efficient cooperation of the French Government in effecting the rescue of Mr. Perdicaris.) GERMANY. ARBITRATION OF THE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA. [See under the Netherlands, p. 505.] NEUTRALITY OF CHINA IN THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN. Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 8, 1904. (Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Tower to consult the minister for foreign affairs in regard to the possibility and desirability of neutral powers concurrently using good offices with Russia and Japan (in case a state of war should unfortunately be created) to induce them to respect the neutrality of China and in all practicable ways her administrative entity, to localize and limit as much as possible the area of hostilities, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented and the least possible loss to the commerce and the peaceful intercourse of the world may be occasioned. If this proposition is acceptable suggest that instructions be sent to the German representatives at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking. All the signatories of the protocol of Peking will then be consulted.) Mr. Tower to Mr. Hay. [Telegram. Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, February 9, 1904. (Mr. Tower reports that he has communicated to the German minister for foreign affairs Department's telegram of February 8 concerning the neutrality of China, and asked him whether this proposition of the United States is acceptable to the Imperial German Government. In reply he stated that the proposition is entirely agreeable to the German Government, and that Germany is ready, on receipt of further information from Washington, to instruct in this sense its representatives at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking. He said further that the German Government sympathizes fully with the purpose of the United States on behalf of humanity, the protection of foreigners in China, the maintenance of order, and the safeguarding of the commerce of the world. He added that Germany believes that to attain these purposes the support of the neutrality of China would be the most available means; and the German Government is prepared to act in harmony with the United States and the other neutral powers to assure the neutrality of China in so far as this may be compatible with the respective military interests of the belligerent powers.) No. 294.] Mr. Tower to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, February 10, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on Tuesday morning, the 9th of February, of your dispatch in regard to the maintenance of the neutrality of China during the war between Russia and Japan. Immediately upon the receipt of this message I proceeded to the Imperial German ministry for foreign affairs, where I had a personal interview with Baron von Richthofen, imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, and communicated to him the contents of your telegram. I handed to Baron von Richthofen a memorandum, a copy of which is herewith respectfully inclosed. Upon leaving the ministry for foreign affairs I telegraphed to you the reply of the German Government in a dispatch, a copy of the text of which, as well as a copy of the text of your dispatch to me, is hereto attached. I have, etc., CHARLEMAGNE Tower. [Inclosure.] A copy of a memorandum handed by Mr. Tower to Baron von Richthofen, imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, on Tuesday, February 9, 1904, at 12 o'clock noon. I am to consult his excellency as to the possibility and desirability of a joint action of the neutral powers to use their good offices with Russia and Japan, in case of actual war, in order that the neutrality of China may be respected and her administrative entity maintained in so far as possible; and also that the area of hostilities may be limited as far as it may be possible to do so and localized so as to prevent undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people, and to attain the least possible loss to the commerce and the peaceful intercourse of the world. If this proposition seems acceptable to his excellency I am instructed to suggest to him that instructions may be sent in this sense to the German representatives in St. Petersburg, Tokio, and Peking. And all the signatories of the protocol of Peking will then be consulted. I am also to intimate to his excellency in confidence that this circular is sent at the suggestion of the German Government. Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 10, 1904. (Mr. Hay acknowledges Mr. Tower's telegram of the 9th instant and states that, in view of the cordial and satisfactory response of the German Government, the Department will at once communicate the views of the United States to all the neutral signatories of the protocol of Peking, and instruct our representatives at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking in the same sense.) Mr. Tower to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, February 11, 1904. (Mr. Tower reports that Department's telegram, announcing that instructions have been sent to the United States representatives at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking, has been communicated to the German minister for foreign affairs, and he replied that the necessary instructions will be sent at once to the German representatives in those capitals. He was also informed that the views of the United States will be communicated immediately to all the neutral signatories of the protocol of Peking.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Tower to convey to the Emperor the President's profound appreciation of his generous initiative and powerful cooperation in the matter of Chinese neutrality.) Mr. Tower to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, February 17, 1904. (Mr. Tower reports that he has conveyed to the Emperor the profound appreciation of the President of his initiative and cooperation in the matter of Chinese neutrality, and that the Emperor was exceedingly gratified and expressed most friendly sentiments toward the President.) |