Count Cassini to Mr. Hay.
[Translation.]
Washington
,
March 30,
1904
.
Mr. Secretary of State: By order of my Government, I have the honor to inform your excellency that the following announcement has just been made by the commander in chief of the Russian fleet in the Pacific Ocean:
“Any public or merchant vessel navigating waters in which military operations are carried on and detected at night without ship lights on board or by day without a flag, and which, after warning by the firing of a gun, will not show its colors, will be considered to be an enemy, and sunk.”
Be pleased, etc.,
Count Cassini.