Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1904

Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

American Embassy,
St. Petersburg, February 7, 1904.

(Mr. McCormick reports that the Japanese minister informed him that, although he had no positive knowledge of the Russian reply, the Russian minister for foreign affairs had informed him that a reply had been sent, and had stated to him, as his own view, that the following conditions should be accepted by Japan:

1. Guaranty of Korean integrity.

2. Free and unfortified passage through the straits between Korea and Japan.

3. The neutral zone in Korea as already defined.

4. No stipulations concerning Manchuria.

He was further informed that the reply had been sent to Admiral Alexieff and the latter had been given authority to modify it as the exigencies of the situation might demand.

Mr. McCormick states that the Japanese minister has asked for his passports and will probably leave to-night.)