Arizona republican., 1899-11-21
NO CAUSE FOR WAR
Relations Between Japan and
Russia are Friendly.
COres is tn Be hept IndCp eTdEni-sn
Agresm nf TO Thsf { d Nes
COnd ssfsd d, Sr PETERSBURG @
Views of n niSftr psvi5ff.

Washington, Nov. 20.-In view of the
imminence of war between
Russia and Japan, concerning rights
in Corea, the statements made today
by Mr.. Alexander PavIoff, the Russian
minister to Corea, who happens > he
in Washington as the guest of Count
Cassini, the Russian ambassador here,
are most opportune and important.
Mr.. Pavlof is an accomplished d.pIo-
mat with extended experience in the
far east, and a direct personal ac-
quaintance with those affairs i'll CO.
rea which have been the basis of the
warlike reports set afioat of late He
was on the staff of Count Cassini 1T
Peking when Russia acquired Fort
Arthur and Talien Wan and later ha
was advanced to the post of minister
to Corea.
Mr.. Pavloff was seen at the Russian
embassy today and spoke quite franz
ly of the recent war rumors.
Il left COrea," he said "only four
months ago, going to st. PetersJur.;
SO that my information is quite direct
and official, and I assure you there is
no basis whatever for the reports of
conflict between Russia and japan
over Corea. On the contrary, the two
countries have entered into two for
NAL compacts by which it is agreed
that the independence of Corea shall
be maintained. These compacts were
concluded at st. Petersburg and To-
kio, and they are so explicit that the
reports of conflict as to sovereignty
over Corean territory show an entire
ignorance of the written agreement
under which Russia and Japan are
acting toward Corea.
The war rumors appear to be based
on an alleged conflict over the court of
'Masanpo. 1t happens that 1 am per
sonally familiar with this affair. as it
developed before left Corea. Masanpo
is one of the new treaty ports on the
southern coast of Corea Originally.
Corea opened three treaty ports. and
these have gradually been increased
until there are now five open ports.
Masanpo being the last. There has
been no question as to the freedom of
the ports to all nations alike, and no
questions of favor or discrimination
between Russia and Japan have oc-
CURED as to the port of Masanpo.
But a purely personal and private
difference arose some months ago as
to the ownership Of certain lots at Ma
sanpo. Russian residents had secured
right to purchase the lots, and We're
awaiting the assent of the Corean
government. Pending this consent.
japanese citizens purchased the same
right This, however, was purely a
private difference. in which the gov
ernments of Russia and Japan had no
part 1t was a most trif1ing occur
renee, the same as though a small
piece of real estate here in Washing
ton was subject between two private
individuals. 1t has no international as
pect, and the effort to make the Ma
sanpo affair basis for war rumors
shows the extreme to which these re-
ports are. carried.
L am glad to say that Corea is
progressing, although slowly. under the
favorable influences exerted by Russia
and Japan The people are peaceable
and orderly, but without that ambi-
ton for modern methods displayed in
some other quarters of the east. They
are retarded also by lack of wealth
They are opening their ports. how
ever. and inviting the outside world to
the country, although the interior is
not yet free to the outside world, ex-
cept by special grant or concession of
mining and other privileges. The re-
ported differences between the rulers
are greatly exaggerated. and when
the outside world hears of an uprising
in Corea it generally amounts to a
street brawl which two policemen can
dispose of. In general, it may be said
that Corea is progressing peacefully.
and that there is no ground for con-
sidering it source of controversy.
much less of war, between Russia and
Japan"
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