Evening star., 1898-11-12
ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA
Consistent Friendship Maintained
Toward This Country.
.EP0RH as TO ENGLAND CORRECTED
Count Cassini on Affairs in the
East.
ATUS OF PHILIPPINE ES

The Russian ambassador Count Cassini,
who is just back from an extended vaca-
tiOn at the seashore and in the mountains,
was seen today at the Russian embassy,
where he talked in a most interesting man
ner on International questions which have
attracted attention of late, particularly the
reported strained relations between Russia
and Great Britain, growing out of condl-
tiCns in China, and also the attitude of the
great powers of Europe during the recent
Spanish-Anerican war
Russia and China.
When Count Cassini was asked concern
ing the recent reports that Russia had
seized the important Chinese treaty port
of Neu ChNang, followed by great activity
in the British naval yards, with a pros
pect of an open rupture between Russia
and Great Britain, he said that too much
Credence was given to these war ruInorS,
and that present conditions gave assurance
of continued friendly relations between
Russia ami Great Britain. There hau been
no confirmation, he said, of the report tnat
Russia had occupied Neu Chwdng, and ne
proceeded tor point out tnat sucn an uccu-
alton by Russia was quite unnecessary,
she had already acquired the most ad-
vantageous naval and military post in tnat
locality, Port Arthur, and commercial
pert at Talien Wan. Port Arthur was not
only valuable as naval and military baSe
but it would serve as the southern terml-
nus of the great Trans-SiDerIan railway
when the project was carried through.
1t is being pushed forward rapidly, and
the ambassador says the present outlook Is
tor the completion OF the railway within
three and one-haIf years. One line runs
rorth to VladivostOck, where the harbor on
the Pacific is closed for four months of
year while the southern line, terminating
L yDItl.. nj III,
port open the year around, both Tor mill
tary and commercial purposes.
During Count Cassinis long service al
Pekin he had an opportunity to meet the
Emperor OF China and 20 learn much OF
the empress dOwager, who has recently as
sumed the direction of affairs He was not
impressed with the ability or force of char
acter of the emperor, who was weak phys
ically and in his direction of public affairs.
Owing to the prevailing rules. the empress
GoWager was never seen even by members of
the diplomatic corps. But Count CasSini says
she was generally known to be a woman Of
much ability and as having strong influence
over the emperor. Her present position at
the head of affairs Count Cassini regards
as greatly to the interests of China. That
1t is a move particularly favorable to Rus
sia the ambassador thinks quite probable as
he says it is not at all surprising that there
should be strong friendship between two
countries having common border of some
1000 miles.
Referring to the Philippines, Count Cas-
sini said that Russia naturally felt much
interest in the status of these islands, ow-
ing to their proximity to the eastern pos
sessions of Russia. There was no warrant.
however. he said. for the reports coming
from Paris that Russia had been Appealed
to by Spain with a view to limiting the
claims of the United States in the Philip-
pines. No such appeal mad been made to
Russia or to other foreign governments.
Throughout the recent war Russia had
maintained the most friendly attitude to-
ward the United States. and the ambassa-
dor said that he did not doubt this would
have a good effect in continuing the firm
friendship which has so long existed be-
tween Russia and the United States.
Untrue Report Regarding England.
In this connection Count Cassini took oc-
casion to join issue with prevailing pub
lie view that England showed her conspic-
uous friendship for the United States dur
ing critical state in the war with Spain
by declining to join the great powers of
Europe in move for Intervention. The
ambassador says he has heard this report
frequently, and it seems to be accepted in
this country a part of the history of the
recent war and the basis for much ap-
plause for England at the expense of the
other great powers of Europe.
But Count Cassini says that no such Tc-
tion on the pact of Great Britain ever took
place. and that the impeachment of the
continued friendiiness of the other powers
IS due TO misapprehension of the faces
AT no time, he says, was there a purpose
on the part of the great powers to inter
Vene against the action of the Unit I'd
States, so that there was never an occasion
for such display of English friendship in
checking the designs Of the great powers
as is generally presented.
Count CaSsIn says that the story al
though very widely circulated and gener-
ally accepted as fact, IS nothing less than
fable and that for the truth of history
as well as for the removal OF this ground
less reflection upon the attitude of the
European powers toward the United States
this tale should not be accepted as a part
of the record of the war. H. does not give
this merely personal opinion, but as es-
tabished fact learned during visits to Paris
and Berlin, well as St. Petersburg
w lille in no way rejecting upon any other
power, the Russian ambassador feels that
1t is but simple justice to Russia and other
continental powers that the consistent
friendship they maintained toward the
| nited States throughout every period of
the war, and continue to maintain toward
this governma mt, should not be obscured
by any sentimental fiction as to the excep-
tonal friendship of one nation and the en-
nifty of others.