Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay.
St. Petersburg, February 17, 1904.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with your telegraphic instruction of the 15th instant, I called upon Count Lamsdorff and personally communicated to him the reply of the Japanese Government to your note, on the subject of the neutrality of China during the existing war, transmitted therein, and in further keeping with that instruction and at his request I handed him a copy of that reply.* * * *
Count Lamsdorff said immediately after glancing at the copy that the Japanese response accorded with his ideas, but that a formal response to the desire already expressed by the Government of the United States with reference to this question could not be made at once, as it was necessary to define the territory which fell within the limit of the Chinese Eastern Railway concession or agreement, which gave Russia the right to maintain such body of troops as were necessary for the defense of the property of the railway and the rights acquired under the agreement, which territory would naturally be excepted in any declaration made by the Russian Government. Count Lamsdorff said further that he would shortly give formal response to the desire already expressed by me in accordance with your telegraphic instruction of February 10.
His manner indicated to me both the wish and purpose on his part to meet that desire, with the exception above noted, and with as little delay as the consideration of the limit within which this exception shall fall would permit.
I have, etc.,