Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 6.djvu/317

RV 287 following as the Russian Counter-Proposals, which, he said was sanctioned by the Emperor of Russia, upon joint presentation by Admiral Alexieff and himself:—

1.Mutual engagement to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the Corean Empire.

2.Recognition by Russia of Japan's preponderating interests in Corea and of the right of Japan to give advice and assistance to Corea tending to improve the civil administration of the Empire without infringing the stipulations of Article I.

3.Engagement on the part of Russia not to impede the commercial and industrial undertakings of Japan in Corea, nor to oppose any measures taken for the purpose of protecting them so long as such measures do not infringe the stipulations of Article I.

4.Recognition of the right of Japan to send for the same purpose troops to Corea, with the knowledge of Russia, but their number not to exceed that actually required, and with the engagement on the part of Japan to recall such troops as soon as their mission is accomplished.

5.Mutual engagement not to use any part of the territory of Corea for strategical purposes nor to undertake on the coasts of Corea any military works capable of menacing the freedom of navigation in the Straits of Corea.

6.Mutual engagement to consider that part of the territory of Corea lying to the north of the 39th parallel as a neutral zone into which neither of the Contracting Parties shall introduce troops.

7.Recognition by Japan of Manchuria and its littoral as in all respects outside her sphere of interest.

8.This agreement to supplant all previous Agreements between Russia and Japan respecting Corea.

(Telegram.)Tokio, October 8th, 1903.

reference to my telegram of the 5th instant, I have begun discussion with the Russian Minister to Japan taking our proposals and the Russian Counter-Proposals as the basis and with a view to secure, if possible, the recognition by Russia of the fundamental principles laid down in our proposals.