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

Count Cassini to Mr. Hay.

[Translation.]

Washington, March 30, 1904.

Mr. Secretary of State: By order of my Government, I have the honor to inform your excellency that the following announcement has just been made by the commander in chief of the Russian fleet in the Pacific Ocean:

“Any public or merchant vessel navigating waters in which military operations are carried on and detected at night without ship lights on board or by day without a flag, and which, after warning by the firing of a gun, will not show its colors, will be considered to be an enemy, and sunk.”

Be pleased, etc.,

Count Cassini.