undying memories which cling around The Hague as the cradle of the beneficent work which had its beginning in 1899 may be strengthened by holding the second peace conference in that historic city. I am, sir, etc., JOHN HAY. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1904. To the representatives of the United States accredited to the governments signatories to the acts of The Hague Conference, 1899. SIR: By the circular instruction dated October 21, 1904, the representatives of the United States accredited to the several governments which took part in the Peace Conference held at The Hague in 1899, and which joined in signing the acts thereof, were instructed to bring to the notice of those governments certain resolutions adopted by the Interparliamentary Union at its annual conference held at St. Louis in September last, advocating the assembling of a second peace conference to continue the work of the first, and were directed to ascertain to what extent those governments were disposed to act in the matter. The replies so far received indicate that the proposition has been received with general favor. No dissent has found expression. The Governments of Austria-Hungary, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxemburg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Roumania, Spain, Sweden and Norway, and Switzerland exhibit sympathy with the purposes of the proposal, and generally accept it in principle, with a reservation in most cases of future consideration of the date of the conference and the programme of subjects for discussion. The replies of Japan and Russia conveyed in like terms a friendly recognition of the spirit and purposes of the invitation, but on the part of Russia the reply was accompanied by the statement that in the existing condition of things in the Far East it would not be practicable for the Imperial Government, at this moment, to take part in such a conference. While this reply, tending as it does to cause some postponement of the proposed second conference, is deeply regretted, the weight of the motive which induces it is recognized by this Government and, probably, by others. Japan made the reservation only that no action should be taken by the conference relative to the present war. Although the prospect of an early convocation of an august assembly of representatives of the nations in the interest of peace and harmony among them is deferred for the time being, it may be regarded as assured so soon as the interested powers are in a position to agree upon a date and place of meeting and to join in the formulation of a general plan for discussion. The President is much gratified at the cordial reception of his overtures. He feels that in eliciting the common sentiment of the various governments in favor of the principle involved and of the objects sought to be attained a notable step has been taken toward eventual success. Pending a definite agreement for meeting when circumstances shall permit, it seems desirable that a comparison of views should be had among the participants as to the scope and matter of the subjects to be brought before the second conference. The invitation put forth by the Government of the United States did not attempt to do more than indicate the general topics which the final act of the first conference of The Hague relegated, as unfinished matters, to consideration by a future conference-adverting, in connection with the important subject of the inviolability of private property in naval warfare, to the like views expressed by the Congress of the United States in its resolution adopted April 28, 1904, with the added suggestion that it may be desirable to consider and adopt a procedure by which States nonsignatory to the original acts of The Hague conference may become adhering parties. In the present state of the project, this Government is still indisposed to formulate a programme. In view of the virtual certainty that the President's suggestion of The Hague as the place of meeting of a second peace conference will be accepted by all the interested powers, and in view also of the fact that an organized representation of the signatories of the acts of 1899 now exists at that capital, this Government feels that it should not assume the initiative in drawing up a programme, nor preside over the deliberations of the signatories in that regard. It seems to the President that the high task he undertook in seeking to bring about an agreement of the powers to meet in a second peace conference is virtually accomplished so far as it is appropriate for him to act, and that, with the general acceptance of his invitation in principle, the future conduct of the affair may fitly follow its normal channels. To this end it is suggested that the further and necessary interchange of views between the signatories of the acts of 1899 be effected through the International Bureau under the control of the Permanent Administrative Council of The Hague. It is believed that in this way, by utilizing the central representative agency established and maintained. by the powers themselves, an orderly treatment of the preliminary consultations may be insured and the way left clear for the eventual action of the Government of the Netherlands in calling a renewed conference to assemble at The Hague, should that course be adopted. You will bring this communication to the knowledge of the minister for foreign affairs and invite consideration of the suggestions herein made. I am, etc. JOHN HAY. PROCLAMATIONS AND DECREES OF NEUTRALITY ISSUED DURING THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND JAPAN. Mr. Loomis to Mr. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 23, 1904. SIR: It is desired to have you obtain and forward to the Department with the least possible delay copies of the neutrality proclamations issued by the Government of war between Russia and Japan. I am, etc., during the F. B. LOOMIS, a This instruction was sent mutatis mutandis to the American representatives in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, and Spain. No. 78.] Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Buenos Ayres, November 10, 1904. SIR: Referring to the Department's unnumbered instruction of September 23 last, relating to the neutrality proclamations issued by this Government during the war between Russia and Japan, I have the honor to report that I am in receipt of a response of the minister of foreign affairs of the Argentine Government to a note which I addressed to him in the matter. In said response the minister of foreign affairs informs me that the Argentine Government has not made public any especial document declaring its neutrality, but has limited itself to the statement that it would observe it (neutrality) in reply to the communications of the two countries at war in which they notified it of the state of war. The minister further informs me that in the report of his department to the National Congress for the year 1903 the Congress is reminded that the course of events in the extreme East has been followed with interest by this Government, and that in conformity to the rules of international law this Government has made a declaration of neutrality, with the determination of fulfilling strictly the duties imposed by and of exercising the rights derived from the same, while deploring the bloody contest entered upon by two nations equally esteemed. I beg to report that on February 17 last a general declaration of the neutrality of Austria (copy of which, together with translation, is inclosed herewith) appeared in the official Wiener Zeitung. A precisely similar declaration was issued on the same day at Budapest for the subjects of the countries of the Hungarian Crown. No other neutrality proclamations of any sort have been issued by the dual monarchy. I have, etc., CHANDLER HALE. [Inclosure-Translation.] Neutrality proclamation of the Austrian Government, published in the official Wiener Zeitung on the 17th of February, 1904. The Imperial Russian and the Imperial Japanese Governments having officially informed the I. and R. ministry of foreign affairs that a state of war now exists between these two powers, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has declared its neutrality to both belligerents and will observe an attitude strictly in conformity with the law of nations. It is therefore the duty of all Austrian subjects to carefully refrain from any actions which might be inconsistent with the neutrality of the monarchy. Mr. Sickles to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Brussels, October 5, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to inform the Department that I have received to-day the official information that Belgium has issued no neutrality proclamations and has limited its action to publishing in the official organ of the Government, Moniteur Belge, of February 12, 1904, a notice calling the attention of the Belgian people to the fact that Belgium, being perpetually neutral, any act contrary to the duties of neutrality must be carefully avoided. I inclose herewith the notice above referred to, together with a translation of the same. I have, etc., STANTON SICKLES. [Inclosure. Translation.] From the Moniteur Belge, February 12, 1904. OFFICIAL NOTICES. Russia and Japan being in a state of war, the Government reminds the people that Belgium is perpetually neutral, and that any act contrary to the duties of neutrality must be carefully avoided. The penal code contains the following provision, to which it may be useful to call public attention: ART. 123. Whosoever, by hostile actions not approved of by the Government, shall have exposed the state to hostilities on the part of a foreign power, shall be punished with imprisonment from five to ten years, and if hostilities should result therefrom, with ten to fifteen years' imprisonment. No. 226.] Mr. Richardson to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Petropolis, October 31, 1904. SIR: In response to your dispatch of September 23, requesting copies of the neutrality proclamation issued by the Brazilian Government, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the one issued at the beginning of the war between the United States and Spain, Brazil having issued no special proclamation for the present war between Russia and Japan, as will be seen from the translation of the note received with this, below. I have, etc., CHARLES RICHARDSON. [Inclosure.] Baron Rio Branco to Mr. Richardson. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, I have present the note which your excellency directed to me on the 25th of the current month, requesting in the name of your Government that there be a Printed in Foreign Relations, 1898, p. 846. remitted to it a copy of the rules of neutrality followed by Brazil during the war between Russia and Japan. The Brazilian Government did not adopt special rules with relation to this lamentable event, for the reason that on this subject it has fixed rules, which are contained in the inclosed circular published by edict on the 29th of April, 1898. I improve the occasion, etc., Mr. Ames to Mr. Hay. RIO BRANCO. AMERICAN LEGATION, Santiago, November 12, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to inform you in reply to Department's unnumbered instruction of September 23, directing me to obtain and forward to the Department copies of the neutrality proclamations issued by the Government of Chile during the war between Russia and Japan, that no such proclamation has been issued by the Government of Chile. In confirmation of this statement I have the honor to inclose a copy and translation of a note sent me by the Chilean minister for foreign relations, under date of yesterday, in response to my written inquiry. I have, etc., EDWARD WINSLOW AMES. [Inclosure. Translation.] Mr. Vergara to Mr. Ames. Mr. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES : MINISTRY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, I had the honor to receive your note of the 7th instant, in which, in pursuance of instructions from your Government, you asked me for copies of the proclamations of neutrality issued by the Government of Chile during the war between Russia and Japan. In reply I have the honor to inform you that the Government has issued no such proclamation, and that it adheres, with reference to the Russo-Japanese conflict, to the general principles of international law which govern the relations between neutral and belligerent nations. I improve this opportunity, etc., LUIS A. VERGARA. Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng to Mr. Hay. CHINESE LEGATION, Washington, February 13, 1904. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I beg to inclose herewith for the files of your Department copies of two telegrams from the Waiwu Pu, dated the 12th instant, relative to the neutrality of China in the present conflict between Japan and Russia, the contents of which I communicated to you this morning. I am, etc., CHENTUNG LIANG-CHENG. a Printed in Foreign Relations, 1898, p. 846. FR 1904 M -2 |