The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-20
CHINA TO REMAIN WHOLE.
Russian Ambassador Says There Will
Be No Partition.

-, Hartford. Conn, Sept. Pa special to
| the Times from Nara gansett 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 rea-
| son for such a change within my knowl-
| edge. Russian policy does not conflict
| with their interests in any part OF the
| land. Russia seeks only peaceful and
| friendly relations with all other nations y
sador that the American people were now
asked by English writers to believe that
to arrange for international Intervention
on behalf of Spain in the recent war and
by the refusal of Great Britain to be
party to it or even to consent to see other
powers engage in 1t, thereby placing this
country under a new and special obliga-
Il have never heard that there was such
a proposition by any. of the powers" said
powers carefully maintained their neu-
trality throughout the war between the
United States and SPAIN
Coming to the question of Russian de-
velopment in the Orient, Count Cassini
In building the Siberian railroad it was
found that the route necessary to be fol-
lowed in reaching Vladivostock was
very dl1hcult one. made. SO especially by
the existence of areas of almost impassa-
presented by that route were practically
insurmountable. We also found that it
was absolutely necessary to cross Chi
nese Manchuria in order to obtain ice
free port, which was essential to enable
cessfuI enterprise our Pacific port Of
Vladivostock, on the Siberian coast, is
closed by ice during the winter months.
We are not building a railroad simply for
the purpose of laying down steel rails,
traffic when it is built, in order to justify
the investment, and so we sought a ter
of all nations could come at all seasons
of the year. We obtained from the Chi
a term of years, like the lease of Kiao-
Chou by the, Germans and Wei-Hai-Wei
In making the arrangement we were
not animated by hostile purpose toward
any other power. The only sure and
tain revenue which the Chinese govern
ment possesses is its maritime customs
and a portion of these were pledged for
the payment of our loan to China. The
administra ton of the maritime customs
Robert Hart, but we did not undertake
to remove or disturb Sir Robert Hart. We
of other nations in China. but have
nations from increasing their commercial |
privileges in that country. When the |
English acquired an extension of territory
near Hong Kong we said nothing against |
it. and the Germans had a free hand in !
the Shan Tung peninsula where they
have obtained very valuable privileges. |
Furthermore, it should be remembered !
boundary some 5000 kiIometers (neariy g. |
900 miles, in extent: so that we have a /
close national relation to China exceed |
ing that of any other power
In regard to the future of China he |
said:
There were 429, OO0, 900 Of people in that |
when the last effort was made to /
obtain a count of them. It is a huge |
population in a vast country. But I do |
not expect to see it divided. In extend !
ing the great Siberian railway to the yell
low sea, the purpose of Russia was not |
to acquire or annex Chinese territory. but
to secure a commercial outlet from Siberia |
and to provide necessary commercial ia
cilities. for our vast northeastern territory
as 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
DIT outlying islands remote from it's Dor
1erS. |