The Chinese Minister to Acting Secretary of State Adee.
Washington, July 10, 1905.
Sir: Under instructions from the Waiwu Pu, the foreign office at Peking, I have the honor to communicate to you the following declaration of the Imperial Chinese Government:
Having viewed with profound regret the unfortunate interruption of peaceful relations between Japan and Russia, the Imperial Government now learns with sincere gratification that negotiations are about to commence for the restoration of peace and amity. But in the present conflict Chinese territory has been made the theater of military operations. Therefore it is hereby expressly declared that no provision affecting China without the [Page 819] approval of China previously obtained, which the treaty of peace may contain, will be recognized as valid. The diplomatic representatives of China in Japan and Russia have been instructed by telegraph to communicate this declaration to the Governments of Japan and Russia, respectively.
Accept, etc.,