The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-20
RUSSIA WANTS PEACE
NOT HOSTILE TO THE UNITED
STATES OR ANY OTHER POWER.
Interesting Talk with Count Cassini
ON the Policy of His Government
The Siberian Railway.

HARTFORD, Conn.,, Sept IA special
to the Times from Narragansett Pier gives
an interview with Count Cassini, the Rus
sian ambassador, in which he says: There
has been absolutely no change in Russian
sentiment or policy toward the United
States, nor does there exist a reason for
such a change within my knowledge Rus
sian policy does not conflict with interests
of the United States in any part of the
world, no more in China than in England
Russia seeks only peaceful and friendly re-
lations with all other nations"
The correspondent reminded the ambassa-
dor that the American people were now
asked by English writer's to believe that
some of the continental powers had sought
to arrange 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 to be a party to it
or to consent to see other powers engage
in it, thereby placing this country under
new and special obligation to the British
people
Il never heard that there was such a
proposition by any of the powers" said
Count Cassini. ION the contrary. all the
powers carefully maintained their neutral
ity throughout the war between the United
States and Spain.'
Coming to the question of Russian de-
velopment in the Orient, he said: IN build
ing the Siberian Railroad it was found that
the route necessary to be followed in reach
Ing Vladivostock was very difficult one
made so especially by the existence of areas
OF almost impossible marshes. The en-
gineering problems presented by that route
were practically insurmountable We also
hot -
cross Chinese Manchuria in order to obtain
an ice-free port which was essential to en-
able the railroad to be commercially sue
cessful enterprise. Our Pacific port of
Viadlvostock 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
Tor the fun of the thing. 1t must have traf-
nc Wnen 1t is built in order to justify the
investment. and so we sought terminus
10 the southwark, where the ships OF ali
nations could come at all seasons of the
Year. We obtained from the Chinese gov
years ike the lease of Kiao-Chou by thu
Germans and Wei-Ha-Wei by the British
In making the arrangement We were am
other power. The only sure and certain
revenue which the Chinese government pos
sesses IS its maritime customs, and por
tlOn or these were pledged for the payment
OF our loan to China. The administration
OF the maritime customs is in the hands
OF an EngllShman Sir Robert Hart, but we
ala not undertake to remove or disturb
Sir Robert Hart. We are represented
as hostile to the interests of other nations
in China, but we have not objected to or
sought to prevent other nations from in
creas1ng their commercial privileges in that
country. When the English acquired an ex-
tension of territory near Hong-Kong we
said nothing against it, and the Germans
have had free hand in the Shan-Tung
peninsula. where they have obtained very
valuable privileges. Furthermore it should
be remembered that Russia and China have
common boundary some nine thousand
knometers nearly six thousand mles) in
extent, so that we have a close national re-
lation to China exceeding that of any other
power"
In regard to the future Of China he said
There will be no partition of China. There
were 429 eco people in that country when
the last effort was made to obtain a count
or them. 1t Is huge population in a vast
country. But do not expect to see 1t di-
vided. In extending the great Siberian rail-
way to the Yellow sea, the purpose of Rus
STA was not to acquire or annex Chinese ter
rltory. put TO secure commercial outlet
from Siberia and to provide necessary COM
territory well as for the parts of China
through which the railway will pass
Upon the subject of the Philippines the
ambassador had no opinion to express his
attitude being that merely of an observer
of what is happening in that part of the
world. The Russian government does not
concern itself with those parts of China or
with outlying islands remote from its bor-
6erg