Count Cassini to Mr. Hay.
Mr. Secretary of State: I am instructed by my Government, in order to avoid every possible misunderstanding, to inform your excellency that the lieutenant of His Imperial Majesty in the Far East has just made the following declaration:
In case neutral vessels, having on board correspondents who may communicate war news to the enemy by means of improved apparatus not yet provided for by existing conventions, should be arrested off the coast of Kwantung or within the zone of operations of the Russian fleet, such correspondents shall be regarded as spies and the vessels provided with wireless telegraph apparatus shall be seized as lawful prize.
Please accept, etc.,