Mr. Hay to Mr.
Conger.
Department of State,
Washington, December 1,
1904.
No. 862.]
Sir: In a recent personal conference the
Russian ambassador has adverted to the attitude of the military, naval,
and civil officers of the United States in China as regards the present
contest between Russia and Japan. While indisposed to make specific
statements in individual cases, allusion is made to instances of
personal and official action on the part of some of these officers,
which, when coming to the knowledge of the Russian representatives,
cause an impression of unfriendliness.
It seems proper to bring this to your attention to the end that you may
advise all officers dependent upon your branch of the service,
cautioning them to observe the utmost circumspection and to avoid all
action which may in any way suggest departure from the strict rule of
impartial neutrality, which is as binding upon the individual officers
of this Government as upon the Government itself.
In this relation I append by way of example copy of the circular orders
given by the President on March 10, 1904, enjoining “all officials of
the Government, civil, military, and naval, not only to observe the
President’s proclamation of neutrality in the war between Russia and
Japan, but also to abstain from either action or speech which can
legitimately cause irritation to either of the combatants.”
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Executive order.
White House, March 10, 1904.
All officials of the Government, civil, military, and naval, are
hereby directed not only to observe the President’s proclamation of
neutrality in the pending war between Russia and Japan, but also to
abstain from either action or speech which can legitimately cause
irritation to either of the combatants. The Government of the-United
States represents the people of the United States, not only in the
sincerity with which it is endeavoring to keep the scales of
neutrality exact and even, but in the sincerity with which it
deplores the breaking out of the present war, and hopes that it will
end at the earliest possible moment and with the smallest possible
loss to those engaged. Such a war inevitably increases and inflames
the susceptibilities of the combatants to anything in the nature of
an injury or slight by outsiders. Too often combatants make
conflicting claims as to the duties and obligations of neutrals, so
that even when discharging these duties and obligations with
scrupulous care it is difficult to avoid giving offense to one or
the other party. To such unavoidable causes of offense, due to the
performance of national duty, there must not be added any avoidable
causes. It is always unfortunate to bring old-world antipathies and
jealousies into our life, or by speech or conduct to excite anger
and resentment toward our nation in friendly foreign lands; but in a
government employee, whose official position makes him in some sense
the representative of the people, the mischief of such actions is
greatly increased. A strong and self-confident nation should be
peculiarly careful not only of the rights but of the
susceptibilities of its neighbors; and nowadays all the nations of
the world are neighbors one to the other. Courtesy, moderation, and
self-restraint should mark international, no less than private,
intercourse.
[Page 186]
All the officials of the Government, civil, military, and naval, are
expected so to carry themselves both in act and in deed as to give
no cause of just offense to the people of any foreign and friendly
power—and with all mankind we are now in friendship.