New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-06

near me to drink to the health Of America, and
the General and his wife toasted "tOutes les
Ameriqucs." whatever that may have meant
The General is an old friend OF MacGahan. the
famous American war correspondent, and ne
told me what a remarkable man he considered
MacGahan to have been | asked him for an
anecdote or two. because they had been together
not only in Central Asia, but also in Turkey
but he seemed to recall none and said that their
companionship had always been under such ex-
citable circumstances-probaby in actual war
that they had talked only about military mat
tiers.
The interview with Kuropatkin took place in
his study and it was "a surprise To all Of US
that it came as it did. We had each planned
to have a separate talk with him on matters
in which We were particularly interested; /
wanted to inquire about the policy Of the Gov
eminent toward foreign capitalists who might
like to invest in Caspia. We had asked
his adjutant to arrange a meeting for US. and
as we drove Up to Government House expected
to be called into his study in turn. Either he
had time for seeing us separately, or else the
adjutant had made a mistake in stating our
Grand for we We're Lshered into the room to-
gether and seated opposite the General, who sat
at his desk writing. Two officers sat beside us
to interpret. as the General wished TO speak in
Russian. Pencil and paper We're handed US and
then Kuropatkin said
Il desire. gentlemen. in view Of the fact that
you likely to send 10 your respective papers
accounts Of your journey in Central ASIA to
give you clear understanding u our posi-
ton here, so that you will not make any mis-
takes in your reports. The policy of the Gov
eminent Of the Trans-Caspian provinces, since
the preseIt Gar came to the throne, is de-
cidedy one Of peace. and we have never taken
to arms until every other method Of accomplish
ing a given purpose has failed Before the rail-
way and telegraph came here ii was sometimes
possible for local officials TO take the direction
Of things into their own hands. Generals Icher-
naieff and SkobeeT are known to have acted
without instructions from the central Govern
ment. and even in direct opposition to the car
wishes. But since Geographic and railway com
munication with European Russia has been es-
tarlishod such performances are unthinkable
Everything must be reported TO ST Pe'erspurs'
and advces must be awaited ere anything deh-
nite can be done 1t is no longer possible as II
was in 1860. for "A general to take place Ike
Tashkend and then send word to the Emperor
Of what he had done | desire that this point
be made very clear because when l was APP
pointed Governor Of Trans-Caspia the foreign
press said that my nomination was the begin
ming Of a dangerous foreign policy
"AU provincial authorities in Russia receive
instructions from the Car, and without his sane
ton they can ntiate nothing Of Importance
II is his wish that peace and order reign In
avarv branch OF the administration, and the
measures used to achieve this end are very
simple. All officials informed that great
care must be taken in allowing a foreign people
10 come under His Majesty's care because they
then receive the rights and privileges oi i'us
slams. and 90 grant these 20 disturbing elements
would be- a very dangerous procedure. we are
commanded by him TO exercise fatheriy care
over all his Asatic subjects. and everything Is
being done to prevent friction and trouble among
them They have been disarmed ana we are
doing our best to interest them in industrial oc-
cupatIons Already good results from oui
efforts and the people are continually impio'-
ing their financial condition. Compared Win
India our possessions here are sun poor anu
sparsely settled but they have certainly been
betteIed since they came under our RUE Inc
women are the most determined deiehuei9 Vi
our regime and the merchant class as Wen as
IN. peasants. see their advantage IN our "o'-
eminent Should trouble occur IL "oulu Nc
due 10 the Mullahs whose influence Ior e'I
is great, but rather through the ignorance IMAM
the fanaticism Of the natives.
FRICTION AVOIDED OK THE FRONTIER.
The progress We have attained would never
have been possible without settled FRONTIERS
Every province in Central ASIA mas had us
period Of war. but il is our constant ehoi' u
prevent further wars at almost any price III
the territory most recently acquired the uou''''
lasted from 1878 to 1879. In 1873 however We
succeeded in defining absolute frontier and
bod
600 .i,ha, with Persia or Afghanstan. In the
| ,r, ,bsra is much infammable ma