Mr. Tower to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
Berlin, February 10,
1904.
No. 294.]
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.,
[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.
