Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger.
Washington, February 10, 1904.
(Mr. Hay instructs Mr. Conger to express to the minister for foreign affairs that it is the earnest desire of the Government of the United States that the neutrality of China and her administrative entity be respected by both parties in the course of the military operations which have begun between Russia and Japan, and that the area of hostilities be localized and limited, so that undue excitement and disturbance of the Chinese people may be prevented, and the least possible loss may be occasioned to the commerce and peaceful intercourse of the world.)