Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

No. 25.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the telegraphic instruction of the 6th instant.

In this connection I have also the honor to inclose herewith a translation of a dispatch received from the foreign office by which the Chinese Government declares that it will not recognize any arrangement which may be made by Japan and Russia at the forthcoming peace negotiations which may involve China’s interests without an agreement to that effect shall have been reached with China.

The motif of this declaration is the apprehension felt that Japan may seek to secure at the peace negotiations the reversion of the various concessions made to Russia or to Russian companies of rights in Manchuria.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Prince Ch’ing to Minister Rockhill.

When recently the unfortunate rupture of friendly relations between Japan and Russia occurred, the Chinese Government was deeply grieved. Now that it is reported that peace negotiations are about to begin and that the old feeling of good will is to be restored the Chinese Government can not but rejoice. But in this present war it is Chinese territory that has been used for the military operations, and if in the articles of peace now about to be negotiated there should be anything involving Chinese interests, it will be impossible to recognize any arrangement whatever, made at this time, concerning which agreement shall not have first been reached with China. My board has already sent a dispatch to this effect to the Japanese and Russian ministers residing in Peking, thus making a plain declaration beforehand. Besides sending separate telegrams to the several Chinese ministers abroad, directing them to inform the various foreign governments, I have the honor, as in duty bound, to send this dispatch to your excellency for your information.

A necessary dispatch.

[seal.]