Page:The New Far East (1906).djvu/92

Rh are declared, in the Russian note above referred to, to be fully proved and confirmed facts:—

"1. The Imperial Government admit that a number of Japanese troops landed in Korea before the formal declaration of war was issued by Japan, but they must say that such landing did not take place before a state of war actually existed between Japan and Russia. The maintenance of the independence and territorial integrity of Korea is one of the objects of war, and, therefore, the despatch of troops to the menaced territory was a matter of right and necessity, which, moreover, had the distinct consent of the Korean Government. The Imperial Government, therefore, drew a sharp distinction between the landing of the Japanese troops in Korea in the actual circumstances of the case and the sending of large bodies of Russian troops to Manchuria without the consent of China, while peaceful negotiations were still in progress.

"2. The Imperial Government declare that the Russian allegation that they stopped the delivery of Russian telegrams by the Danish cable and destroyed the Korean Government's telegraphic communication is wholly untrue. No such acts were done by the Imperial Government. Regarding the sudden alleged attack, on February 8th last, upon two Russian men-of-war in the port of Chemul-po, it is only necessary to say that a state of war then existed, and that, Korea having consented to the landing of Japanese troops at Chemul-po, that harbor had already ceased to be a neutral port, at least as between the belligerents.

"3. The Imperial Government have established a Prize Court, with full authority to pronounce finally on the question of the legality of seizures of merchant vessels. Accordingly, they deem it manifestly out of place to make any statement on their part regarding the Russian assertion that they unlawfully captured as prizes of war the Russian merchantmen which were in the ports of Korea.

"4. The Russian Government allege that the Japanese Government declared to the Emperor of Korea through their Minister at Seoul, that Korea would be henceforth under Japanese administration, and warned the Emperor that in case of non-compliance, Japanese troops would occupy the palace. The Imperial Government declares this charge to be absolutely and wholly without foundation.

"5. No demand, either direct or indirect, was addressed by the Japanese Government to the Russian Minister at Seoul to retire from Korea. The fact is as follows: On February 10 last, the French Charge d' Affaires at Seoul called on the Japanese Minister there and informed him, as it was afterwards confirmed in writing,