Memorandum handed to the Secretary of State March 19, 1902. [Translation.] IMPERIAL EMBASSY OF RUSSIA IN WASHINGTON. The allied Governments of Russia and France having received communication of the Anglo-Japanese convention of January 30, 1902, concluded for the object of assuring status quo and general peace in the Far East as well as of maintaining the independence of China and Korea, which countries must remain open to the commerce of all nations, have found therein, with full satisfaction, the affirmation of the essential principles that they themselves have repeatedly declared to be and remain the foundation of their policy. The two Govern ments consider the observance of those principles to be at the same time a guaranty for their special interests in the Far East. Being, however, under the necessity of taking into account, for their own part, the contingency of either the aggressive action of third powers or renewed disturbances in China, by which the integrity and free development of that power would be put in doubt, becoming a menace, for their own interests the two allied Governments reserve to themselves the right eventually to devise suitable means to insure their protection. ST. PETERSBURG, March 3 (16), 1902. Memorandum. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 22, 1902. The Government of the United States has pleasure in taking note of the declaration of the allied Governments of Russia and France that, having received communication of the Anglo-Japanese convention of January 30, 1902, which was concluded for the purpose of assuring the status quo and general peace in the Far East as well as maintaining the independence of China and Korea, which countries should remain open to the commerce and industry of all nations, they have found full satisfaction in seeing therein the affirmation of the essential principles which they have themselves on repeated occasions declared to form and continue to be the bases of their policy. The Government of the United States is gratified to see in this declaration of the allied Governments of Russia and France, as in the Anglo-Japanese convention, renewed confirmation of the assurances it has heretofore received from each of them regarding their concurrence with the views which this Government has from the outset announced and advocated in respect to the conservation of the independence and integrity of the Chinese Empire as well as of Korea, and the maintenance of complete liberty of intercourse between those countries and all nations in matters of trade and industry. With regard to the concluding paragraph of the Russian memorandum the Government of the United States, while sharing the views therein expressed as to the continuance of the "open-door" policy against possible encroachment from whatever quarter, and while equally solicitous for the unfettered development of independent China, reserves for itself entire liberty of action should circumstances unexpectedly arise whereby the policy and interests of the United States in China and Korea might be disturbed or impaired. No. 552.] Mr. Tower to Mr. Hay. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STates, St. Petersburg, March 22, 1902. SIR: I have the honor to inclose to you herewith, for your information, a copy of the declaration" of the 3d (16th) of March, made by Russia and France in regard to the maintenance of the status quo in the Far East, as the same was published in the official part of the Journal de St. Pétersbourg on Thursday, the 7th (20th) of March, 1902. Although this declaration was officially communicated to the Government of the United States by the representatives in Washington of the signatory powers, its publication here was accompanied by a memorandum issued in regard to it by the imperial Russian minister for foreign affairs, which may not have accompanied the official communication of the declaration itself. I forward this copy of it to you, therefore, because of its value in interpreting the purposes of the declaration and also for the particularly interesting confirmation which it contains of the statements of policy heretofore made by Russia in regard to the open door in China. This statement is that: The principles which have guided the policy of Russia since the outbreak of the disorders in China have always been and still are unchanged. Russia insists upon the independence and the integrity of China, a neighboring and friendly country, as well as upon those of Korea. Russia desires the maintenance of the status quo and of the general peace in the Far East. By the construction of the Great Siberian Railway, with its branch line through Manchuria to a harbor always free from ice, Russia favors the extension within those regions of the commerce and industry of the whole world. I have, etc., [Inclosure.] CHARLEMAGNE TOWER. From the Journal de St. Petersburg of Thursday, March 7 (20), 1902—Official. ST. PETERSBURG, March 6, 1902. The convention concluded in January last between England and Japan has given rise to the most contradictory interpretations and to the most varied suppositions, principally by reason of the fact that by that instrument two of the eleven powers which had quite recently signed the Pekin protocol, after bringing their collective action in China to an end, seemed to separate themselves from the other cabinets and to place themselves in a special situation in respect to the Celestial Empire, in which, thanks to the efforts of them all, the traditional order of things had been reestablished and the legitimate central authority had been restored. The Imperial Government, having duly considered the friendly communications sent to Russia by the Japanese and British Governments on this subject, viewed the conclusion of the said arrangement with the utmost calmness. The principles which have guided the policy of Russia since the beginning of the disorders in China have remained, and still remain, unchanged. Russia insists upon the independence and integrity of China, a friendly and neighboring country, as it does upon those of Korea. Russia desires the maintenance of the status quo and of general peace in the Far East. By the construction of the Great Siberian Railway, with a branch line running through Manchuria to a port which is at all times free from ice, Russia favors the extension of the commerce and industry of the entire world in those regions. Would it be to her interest to place obstacles in their way now? The intention expressed by England and Japan to contribute to the attainment of the objects which have invariably been had in view by the Russian Government can not fail to meet with the sympathy of Russia in spite of the comments which have a Printed, ante, page 931. emanated from certain political spheres and from sundry organs of the foreign press, which have endeavored to present the impassible attitude of the Imperial Government in a quite different light as regards a diplomatic instrument which, in its eyes, in no wise changes the general situation of the political horizon. Now, in view of the ever-persistent agitation concerning the Anglo-Japanese arrangement, the allied Governments of Russia and France have deemed it necessary distinctly to formulate their views on this subject in an identical declaration addressed to the powers whose representatives, conjointly with the plenipotentiaries of Russia and France, signed the Pekin protocol of August 25 (September 7), 1901. No. 293.] Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 552 of the 22d ultimo, transmitting a copy of the declaration of March 16, made by Russia and France relative to the maintenance of the status quo in the Far East, as it appeared in the official part of the Journal de St. Pétersbourg. I inclose for your information copy of the declaration," which I have received from the allied governments of France and Russia, through their embassies at Washington, relative to the maintenance of the status quo and general peace in the Far East, and a copy of the reply" of the Government of the United States. EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram' of May 24. I inclose herewith the reply of the Russian Government to my request made in accordance with your instructions. I have communicated the substance of this note to the consul-general in this city, instructing him to inform all the consular representatives under him. I have, etc., J. W. RIDDLE, Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim. [Inclosure.-Translation.] Prince Obolensky to Mr. Riddle. MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES: In reply to your note of May 13 (26), I have the honor to inform you that the Imperial Government sees no objection to the interests of Cuba and its citizens being represented by consular officers of the United States residing in Russia, as requested by the President of the Republic of Cuba. Please receive, etc., a Printed, ante. OBOLENSKY. b Printed, page 6. VISIT OF RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE BORIS WLADIMIROVITCH TO THE UNITED STATES. Count Cassini to Mr. Hay. [Translation.] IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMBASSY, Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: His Imperial Highness Monseigneur Grand Duke Boris Wladimirovitch sailed from Yokohama on July 15 on board the steamship Coptic, bound for San Francisco. The Grand Duke travels incognito, with a suite of five persons. I have to ask that your excellency will cause the necessary steps to be taken for the granting of the customary courtesies in such cases to the baggage of the Grand Duke and his suite. I should also wish that a boat be placed at the disposal of the consul of Russia at San Francisco, so that he may meet the Coptic, take the orders of His Imperial Highness, and convey the Grand Duke and his suite to the shore. I should be deeply thankful, Mr. Secretary of State, if you would provide such police arrangements in San Francisco, as well as during the whole trip of His Imperial Highness, as will insure the Grand Duke's safety. According to information at hand, Monseigneur proposes to spend five days in San Francisco, after which he will visit several States of the Union. I shall lose no time in communicating to your excellency further particulars of His Imperial Highness' trip as soon as they reach me. Warmly thanking you in advance, etc., CASSINI. Mr. Adee to Count Cassini. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: Referring to previous correspondence regarding the visit of His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Boris to the United States, I beg to say that the Acting Secretary of the Navy has communicated to this Department a report from Rear-Admiral Miller, commandant of the Mare Island Navy-Yard and Station, in which he states: I sent my aid, Lieutenant-Commander Parker, to confer with the Russian consul at San Francisco in relation to the visit of His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Boris Wladimirovitch, and to tender him the services of a tug to meet the steamer and convey the Grand Duke and his suite to the shore, and also to inform the consul that we would be pleased to be of any further service, and in case the Grand Duke would desire to visit this yard, would place the yard tug at his service. The consul returned his thanks for the courtesies tendered and stated that he had already made arrangements with the customs officials for a vessel to convey the Grand Duke from the steamer, and that his impression was that the visit to San Francisco would be a short one. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE. Count Cassini to Mr. Adee. [Telegram.-Translation.] IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMBASSY, Bar Harbor, Me., September 16, 1902. His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Boris will leave Newport to-morrow, Wednesday, at 1 o'clock, going directly by sea on Mr. Vanderbilt's yacht on board La Lorraine, which sails from New York on the 18th instant. The Grand Duke charges me to express to the Department of State his sincere thanks for all the courtesies and attentions shown to him during his trip in the United States. I join my warmest thanks to those of His Highness. CASSINI. Count Cassini to Mr. Adee. [Translation.] IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMBASSY, Bar Harbor, September 12 (25), 1902. MR. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: I wish to complete the telegram I had the honor to address to you under date of September 16, and to express to you once more my best thanks for the courtesy and prompt attention of which His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Boris was the recipient at the hands of the Federal Government during his recent trip in the United States. His Imperial Highness carries with him the most pleasant and grateful remembrance of his sojourn in this great country. The cordial reception extended to the Grand Duke at Sagamore Hill by the President of the United States has particularly touched him, and the Grand Duke has been glad of the opportunity thus offered of meeting and paying his respects to the eminent statesman who presides over the destinies of this country. The broad and generous hospitality His Highness has enjoyed in the United States, and especially at Newport-such hospitality, let it be said in passing, as is only found in our two countries, has deeply touched His Highness and contributed to the indelible impression made on his memory by his sojourn in this country, Russia's friend. * * * * * I am therefore glad, Mr. Assistant Secretary of State, to be in a position to reiterate to you the assurance that His Imperial Highness has left the United States deeply impressed by the reception extended to him, and, I say it again, earnestly grateful for the courtesies and attentions shown him by the Department of State. Be pleased, etc., CASSINI. No. 212.] Mr. Adee to Count Cassini. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 25th ultimo, expressing your thanks for the courtesies paid |