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RV 273 was received, was still more profound, for in it the clauses relating to Manchuria were completely suppressed, thus restricting the proposed convention entirely to Corea, while on the other hand the original demands regarding the neutral zone and the non-employment of Corean territory for strategical purposes were again revived. But the object of the convention was, as above stated, the removal of all causes of future conflict by a definitive settlement of all questions between the two countries at points where their interests meet, and if Manchuria were placed outside the purview of the arrangement, and a moiety of the problem were thus to remain unsolved, the result would plainly be at variance with the aims for which the negotiations were inaugurated. Consequently, on the 21st of December last, the Imperial Government asked the Government of Russia to reconsider their position on the subject of Manchuria, and again requested, with respect to Corea, the suppression of the restrictions as to the employment of Corean territory, and they also proposed the entire deletion of the clause relating to a neutral zone, as it was considered that, if Russia would not agree to its extension into Manchuria, it would be only fair not to create it in Corea.

The Russian Government gave their reply on the 6th of January, in which they still adhered to their original proposals as regards Corea, and on condition that those proposals were accepted by the Imperial Government they offered to agree to the insertion of a clause stipulating that Russia would not impede the enjoyment by Japan and other Powers of the rights and privileges acquired under existing treaties with China. This at first sight might seem to be a concession on the part of Russia regarding Manchuria, but in reality it was not so, for Russia made it conditional on certain propositions regarding Corea to which Japan could never agree. Again, no stipulations were to be made as to the territorial integrity of Manchuria, and the above-mendoned clause, unaccompanied by assurances concerning territorial integrity, would be practically valueless. Accordingly, the Imperial Government, recognizing the absolute necessity of causing Russia to engage herself to respect the territorial integrity of Manchuria, and finding no margin for further concession in regard to Corea, decided to firmly insist upon their amendments, and once more requested on