Page:The New Far East (1906).djvu/90

Rh I therefore reproduce them here, complete. On February 11, 1904, Count Lamsdorf, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave out the following circular note:

"Since the rupture of the negotiations between Russia and Japan, the attitude of the Tokyo cabinet has constituted an open violation of all customary laws governing the mutual relations of civilised nations. Without specifying each particular violation of these laws on the part of Japan, the Imperial Government considers it necessary to draw the most serious attention of the Powers to the acts of violence committed by the Japanese Government with respect to Korea. The independence and integrity of Korea as a fully independent Empire have been fully recognized by all the Powers, and the inviolability of this fundamental principle was confirmed by Article 1 of the Shimonoseki treaty, and by the agreement especially concluded for this purpose between Japan and Great Britain on January ao, 1902 (Anglo-Japanese alliance), as well as by the Franco-Russian declaration of March 16, 1902. The Emperor of Korea, forseeing the danger of a possible conflict between Russia and Japan, addressed, early in January, 1901, a note to all the Powers, declaring his determination to preserve the strictest neutrality. This declaration was received with satisfaction by the Powers, and was ratified by Russia. According to the Russian Minister to Korea, the British Government, which had signed the above-mentioned treaty with Japan on January 30, 1902, charged the British diplomatic representative at Seoul to present an official note to the Emperor of Korea, thanking him for his declaration of neutrality. In disregard of all these facts, in spite of all treaties, in spite of all its obligations, and in violation of the fundamental rules of international law, it has been proved by exact and fully confirmed facts that the Japanese Government,

"1. Before the opening of hostilities against Russia, landed its troops in the independent Empire of Korea, which had declared its neutrality.

"2. With a division of its fleet made a sudden attack on February 8th—that is, three days prior to the declaration of war— on two Russian warships in the neutral port of Chemul-po. The commanders of these ships had not been notified of the severance of diplomatic relations, as the Japanese maliciously stopped the delivery of Russian telegrams by the Danish cable and destroyed the telegraph communication of the Korean Govenmient. The details