Mr. Hay to Mr. Bryan.
Washington, February 10, 1904.
(Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Bryan to consult the Portuguese Government in regard to the possibility and desirability of an arrangement between the neutral powers to use their good offices with Russia and Japan for the purpose of inducing them to respect China’s neutrality and administrative entity as far as possible, limiting and localizing the area of hostile operations, to minimize the disturbance and excitement of the Chinese people and the injury to commerce and to the peaceful intercourse of the world. If no opposition to this proposition is offered he is instructed to suggest that the representatives of Portugal at St. Petersburg, Tokyo, and Peking be instructed in this sense.)