Page:The New Far East (1906).djvu/94

Rh Tokyo, sent from St. Petersburg February 4, was not delivered until the morning of February 7. That delay did not occur on the Siberian line, as is shown by the fact that a telegram for Viceroy Aliexieff, sent at the same time, was received the same day. Therefore, it is conclusive that the Rosen telegram was held by the Japanese and not delivered for two days. Communication with M. Pavloff (then Russian Minister to Korea) by the Korean telegraph ceased in the middle of January. As the Koreans were enjoying friendly relations with Russia, there is good ground for believing that the interruption was due to the Japanese. Thereafter M. Pavloff used a mail steamer or special warship to communicate with Port Arthur. The Minister of Russia at Seoul, February 8, therefore, knew nothing of the diplomatic rupture.

"Japan pleads that the charge against her seisure of Russian merchantmen before the declaration of war cannot lie after the establishment of prize courts. Their seizure before the declaration of war, being piracy, is not defensible by the establishment of prize courts which cannot exist before a declaration of war. The steamer 'Russia' was seized in the waters of southern Korea even before M. Kurino had presented his note here.

"Our information regarding Japan's announcement that in future Korea would be under her administration came from M. Pavloff and also from the representative of a friendly Power at Seoul. Japan's denial, consequently, is fruitless, as also is the attempt to refute our statement that the Russian Minister and Consul at Seoul were told to leave. We had conclusive proof in St. Petersburg on February 10 that the French Minister at Seoul had officially notified our representatives that the Japanese Government had intimated that they should leave, and that the Japanese had occupied territory in Korea. [M. Pavloff was unable to notify our Consul at Fusan, his telegram bdng refused at the telegraph office."

It will be noticed that in the presentation of her contention to the Powers, Russia made five distinct charges against Japan. First, that Japan landed troops in Korea before a declaration of war; second, that Japan attacked and destroyed two Russian ships in the harbor of Chemul-po before war had been declared and while the port was entirely neutral, and prevented telegrams