The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-05
Former Ambassador Hitchcock De-
tends the Gar.
POSITION DURING THE WAR
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT NEVER
INTENDED TO INTERVENE.
False Impressions Were Created By
Unofficial Utterances of the Rus
sian Press-Czar's Great Faith In
His Peace Programme-Inspired
By the Highest Motives.

London, Feb. 4.-Ethan Allen Hitch
cock, the retiring American ambassa-
dor to Russia, who was recently ap-
pointed United States secretary of the
Interior arrived in London on his way
to Washington. He carries home the
strongest pro-Russian sympathies. In
an interview had with him by rep
resentative of the Associated Press Mr..
Hitchcock denounced emphatically the
stories current since the beginning OF
the INSTRUMENTATION war that Rus
STA was a member of the coalition of
continental powers which would have
interviewed in the dispute had England
not refused to join them.
These stories are utterly untound-
ed" said Mr.. Hitchcock. There has
never been a single item of proof pro-
duced to substantiate them and, on the
contrary, Russia has been most friend
ly towards the United States and has
manifested that friendship during the
past years in many ways, OF winch my
position forbids me to speak
Unfortunately, the Russian govern
ment is so constituted that it cannot
do much talking in such cases as the
present. but can only wait for time to
afford opportunities for proving the
truth. When these opportunities ar
ed. The false impressions which have
arisen are very unfortunate and,
think, are largely due to the utter
anceS of Russian newspapers, certain
of which are popularity supposed to be
official organs; whereas, the SUPPOSE
ton is utterly unfounded, as they rep
resent the government no more than
Independent sections of the American
press represent that government.
In Ilaf11acrafiH notifies
the Russian papers must be most eau
tious, but when it comes to foreign
affairs they are allowed degree of
liberty and even license, which sur
prised me. OF course they say things
that interfere with the governments
plans and they may be cautioned and
told that they are injudicious, but or
dinarily they are entirely unham-
pered."
ADMIRES THE GAR
Like most persons making the ac-
quaintance of the car. Mr.. hitchcock
has a profound admiration for the
young potentate and expresses himself
strongly as to his frankness, sincerity
and enterprise.
After the formal presentation of his
letters of recall on Saturday last, MIR.
had long personal talk with
the car and Count Muraveiff, the Rus
sian foreign minister. He SCOTS at the
idea that the cars peace propaganda
is inspired by any but the highest mo-
tives Regarding the cars proposal
looking to the limitation of ornaments,
Mr. Hitchcock said:
1.-THE car is in no wise discouraged
by the reception of his plans for
checking the increase of ornaments.
He has not any idea that he will
achieve all he desires Immediately, but
is firm in the belief that his views must
prevail in time and at a not far dis
tant time
Mr.. Hitchcock was delayed for a fort |
night by the difficulty he encountered |
in arranging for a reception by the /
ear. on account of winter festivities, /
which were in progress and in which I
the members Of the royal family par /
actively, the car attending /
reunions Of various regiments and
making addresses. He will sail on I
Wednesday, but his family will not go !
to WashiT gton until the fall. Mr.. i
not desiring to take a house /
there so mar the close of the season. /
The member of the retiring ambassa- :
doris family are now in Berlin and VIII +
spend sonaG time in Italy and at Con- .
Mr.. Hitchcock VII as
sumo the duties of his new position i'm
mediately Upon his arrival in Washing /
ton.
Regarding his selection by President
as Mr.. Bliss successor, he I
My appointment was as much a sur
prise TO mo as il could have been to
he public"