New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-20
xTSSJA,S PLANS EXPLAINED.
,upoRTANT STATEMENTS RY AMBASSA-
DOR CASSINI.
rNFRIENDLY MOVES AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES DENIED-A PEACEFUL CONNER
CrAI, POLICY IN CHINA

STATES DENIED-A PEACEFUL NoMMEh-
CIAL POLICY IN CHINA
Hartford. Conn.,. Sept ia speclal oispa'ch
N The Times" from Narragansett PER gives
an interview with Count Cassini. the Russian
Ambassador. in which he says
There has been absolutely no change in Rus
sian sentiment or policy toward the United
States nor does there exist reason for sucn
change within my kno ovedge Russian policy
does not conflict with interests Of the united
s,a,As in any part of the world more in
China than in England Russia seeks only
neacefnl and friendly relations with all other
nations
The correspondent reminded the Ambassador
tha, the American people were now asked oy
English writer's TO believe that some Of the Con
,inen,al Powers had sought TO arrange project
for International intervention on behalf Of Spain
IN the recent war and that this plan Of action
had been defeated by the refusal Of Great
Britain 10 be party to it or even 10 consent TO
see other Powers engage in il. thereby placing
this country under a new and SPECIAL obhgauoh
10 the British people
Il never heard that there was such propose
tion BY any Of the Powers" said Count Cassini'
"On the contrary. all the Powers carefully nam
taiped their neutrality throughout the war be
tween the United states and Spain
NEED OF AN ICE-FREE PORT.
Coming to the question Of Russian develop
nent In the Orient. Count Cassini SAD:
Tn building the Siberian Railroad It was
found that the route necessary TO be folo"eo
IN reaching Vladivostock was very difficult
one. made 50 especially by the existence OF areas
NJ almost innpassable marshes. The engineering
nrohlerns presented by that route were practl-
cauv insurmountable We also found that II
was absolutely necessary 10 cross Chinese Man
chYrla In order 70 obtain an ice-free port which
was essential 70 enable the railroad 10 be
commercially successful enterprise. Our Pacific
port Of Vladivostock on the Siberian coast, Is
closed by ice during the winter months
We are not building railroad simply for the
purpose Of laying down steel rails or for the run
OF the thing 1t must have traffic when II IS
blilt in order TO justify the investment, ana so
We sought terminus 70 the southward, Where
the ships Of all nations could come at all sea
sons Of the year. We obtained from the chi
nsse Government a lease Of territory for a term
OF Years like the lease Of Kiao-Chau ny the Ger
mans and Wei-Hai-Wei by the British.
In making the arrangement we we're not
animated b. hostile purposes toward any other
Power The only sure and certain revenue
which the Chinese Government possesses is It's
pledged for the payment Of our lease TO China
The administration Of the maritime customs Is
IN the hands OF an Englishman Sir Robert Hart.
but we aid not undertake TO remove or disturb
Sir Rober, Hart We are represented as hosthe
to the interests Of other nations in China out
we have not obtec ed to or sought TO prevent
other nations from increasing their commercial
privileges in that country.
When the English acquired an extension OF
territory near Hong Kong, we SAID ho'hihe
against IT, and the Germans have had Tree
hand in the Shan -Tung peninsula, where lheS
have obtained very valuable privileges. fur-
therrnore Il should be remembered that Russia
and China have common boundary OF some
zine thousand kilometres (nearly six thousaho
nies) in extent 50 that We have close ma
uonal relation 10 China. exceeding that OF any
other Power"
NO PARTITION OF CHINA.
In regard to the future Of China Count Cas-
thi said: There viii be no partition Of China
There we're 400 100000 OF people In that coun-
w When the last effort made to obtain a
"uhtot them 1t is a huge population IN a vast
.0uhy But do not expect to see IL divided
"a extending the Great Siberian Railway 10 the
i."ow Sea the purpose Of Russia was not 10
acquire or annex Chinese territory, but 70 Sc
cure Commercial outlet from Siberia and 10
"o'lde Necessary commercial facilities lor our
'dsl northeastern territory, az well as Tor me
'a''s OF China through which the railway VIII
pass"
Upon the subject Of the Philippines, the Am
Usssaaor had no opinion Il express, his attItuoe
'''"e merely that Of an observer OF what ~
"oppeh'ng in that part Of the world. me hus.
s@h GoVernment he said did not concern i'Sei
""h 'ae lower parts Of China. or with outlying
@.ah1s' As TO the question Of the ac9ui"''io"
" 'He Philippines by this country he went ho