The Russian Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, January 18, 1905.
Dear Excellency: I have had the honor to receive your letter dated January 17, relative to the memorandum of the Imperial Government dealing with acts contrary to the neutrality which the Chinese Government had promised to observe.
You are pleased to tell me in your letter that the Chinese Government has declared that it has constantly performed in the present war the duties imposed upon it, from its standpoint, by strict neutrality, and that it denies the existence of the facts contrary to such neutrality that are laid to its charge. No other answer could assuredly be expected from the Chinese Government, but I shall take the liberty of asking you to notice that this denial of China is met by the Imperial [Page 759] Government with the presentation of a full series of facts, for the most part of matters of public knowledge, which the foreign representatives at Peking—those at least who wish to reach a conscientious appreciation of the true condition of things—can not fail to know and to report to their respective governments.
The present aspect of the situation is as follows: On the one hand, a series of acts, unquestionalby contrary to the neutrality of China and incited by Japan; on the other, denials unsupported by any evidence. I beg to take up, among the facts cited in the Russian memorandum, the Ryeshitelni incident at Chefoo, which has attracted so much attention that no one can be supposed not to know of it. This incident showed to the world what heed Japan paid to the neutrality of China and the inability or unwillingness of the latter, intimidated by Japan, to enforce the neutrality of which she had assumed the obligations. The United States and Europe saw fit to close their eyes upon that flagrant breach of neutrality of China, as well as upon the deplorable attitude the latter assumed, on that occasion. I took the liberty at the time to draw your attention to the probable consequences that would attend in the future the leniency evinced in that case toward both China and Japan. Finding encouragement in that attempt, both those powers persevered in that objectionable course, which placed upon Russia, scrupulously true to the promises made, the necessity of noticing at every moment the encroachments of China, encouraged by Japan, upon the duties of the neutrality which had been imposed upon her in her own interest and in that of the whole world. Russia surely is as much interested as the other powers, and perhaps even more, in the maintenance of the neutrality of China as long as this neutrality is strictly and loyally observed. Engaged as Russia is in a serious war, it is obviously not to her advantage to complicate the situation by creating additional difficulties, but it is impossible, I must say it again, for her to admit for an instant that while she is herself observing her duties of neutrality, China, influenced and intimidated by Japan, may commit acts contrary to her neutral obligations and detrimental to the interests of Russia.
I highly appreciate and shall not fail to transmit to the proper quarter the words which the President has directed you to transmit to me, but I venture to remark that a favorable solution of the question depends at this time much more on China and Japan than on Russia, who, as I have already said, has heretofore scrupulously observed her duties of neutrality toward the Celestial Empire.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,