of this dastardly attack are contained and published in an official telegram from the Russia Minister at Seoul.
"3. In spite of the international laws above mentioned, and shortly before the opening of hostilities, the Japanese captured, as prizes of war, certain merchant ships in the neutral ports and waters of Korea.
"4. Japan declared to the Emperor of Korea, through the Japanese Minister at Seoul, that Korea would henceforth be under Japanese administration, and she warned the Emperor that in case of non-compliance Japanese troops would occupy the palace.
"5. Through the French Minister at Seoul she summoned the Russian representative at the Korean Court to leave the country, with the staff of the Russian legation and consulate.
"Recognizing that all the above facts constitute a flagrant breach of international law, the Imperial Government considers it to be its duty to lodge a protest with all the Powers against this procedure of the Japanese Government, and it is firmly convinced that all the Powers, valuing the principles which guarantee their relations, will agree with the Russian attitude. At the same time, the Imperial Government considers it necessary to issue a timely warning that, owing to Japan's illegal assumption of power in Korea, the Imperial Government declare all orders and declarations which may be issued on the part of the Korean Government to be invalid. I beg you to communicate this document to the government to which you are accredited.
"Lamsdorf."
On March 9, 1904, the Japanese Government replied as follows:
"The Russian Government are understood to have recently addressed a note to the Powers, in which the Japanese Government are
charged with having committed certain acts in Korea which are considered by Russia to be in violation of international law, and in which Russia further declares all future orders and declarations of the Korean Government to be invalid. The Imperial Government
do not find it necessary in the present instance to concern themselves in any way with views, opinions or declarations of the Russian Government, but they believe it to be their right and duty to correct misstatements of facts which, if permitted to remain uncontradicted, might give rise in the opinion of neutral Powers to incorrect inferences and conclusions. Accordingly, the Imperial Government desire to make the following statement respecting the five acts which
