Memorandum to the Russian Embassy.
Washington, February 14, 1910.
The information already before the Imperial Russian Foreign Office makes it clear that the Government of the United States, when asked to support the Chinchow-Aigun Railway project, expressed its willingness and desire that all friendly powers to the complete commercial neutralization of Manchuria should be invited to participate in the financing and construction of that line. The Government of the United States for its part still adheres to the principle of participation and friendly cooperation of the interested powers, but can not admit that by inviting cooperation on the part of Russia it has in any way bound itself not to take any steps in regard to the proposed railway without consulting the Imperial Russian Government.
The proposal for such participation on the part of other powers was made on the basis of a contract already in existence, which has since been ratified by the Chinese Government. This contract, however, provides by its own terms for such revision of its provisions as may be deemed necessary, and consequently its ratification does not preclude the consideration of any suggestions that the Russian Government may care to offer. Pending the receipt, however, of an intimation from the Russian Government of its desire to participate in the enterprise, the Government of the United States must determine independently what measures it may take to support and confirm the rights of its nationals under the contract in which they are interested jointly with British subjects.