The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-05
STORIES HAVE
NO FOUNDATION
Russia Did Not Enter COlitiOn Against
the United States.
ETHAN ALLEN HITCHCOCK
In an Interview Lands the Young Rus
sian POtentate, Nicholas II.
HIS PLANS FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE
Have Been Put Forward in Good Faith
and the Czar Has Hope That
His Idea Will Be
Endorsed.
HIS PLANS FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE

London, February 4-Ethan Allen Hitch
cock, the retiring ambassador to Russia,
who was recently appointed United States
secretary of the interior, arrived in London
today on his way to Washington. He car
ries home the strongest pro-Russian SYM
pathies.
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
Hispano-American war that Russia was a
member of the coalition of continental pow
ers which would have inltervened in the dis
pute if England had not refused to join
them
'"These stories are utterly unfounded,"
saIu Mr.. Hitchcock. There has never been
single item of proof produced to substan-
tiate them, and, on the contrary, Russia has
been most friendly toward the United States
anu has manifested that friendship during
the past year in many ways, of which my
position forbids me to speak.
Can't Talk Much
unfortunately, the Russian government
is SO constituted that it cannot do much
talking in such cases as the present, but
ties for proving the truth. When this op-
portunity arrives its friendship will be DEM
onstrated. The false impressions which
have arisen have been very unfortunate and
1 think are largely due to the utterances
of Russian newspapers, certain of which
are popularity supposed to be official organs;
whereas, the suppostion is utterly unfound-
ed they represent the government no
more than independent sections the
American press repre- sent that govern ment.
I'm discussing domestic politics, the Rus
sian papers must be most cautious, but
when it comes to foreign affairs they are
allowed a degree of liberty and even license
which surprised me. OF course, If they say
things that in erefere with the government S
plans they may be cautioned and told that
they are injudicious, but ordinarily they
are entirely unhampered."
Respect for the Gar
Like most persons who make the ac-
quaintance of the cZar, Mr. Hitchcock has
a profound admiration for the young po-
tentate and expresses himself strongly as
to his frankness, sincerity and enterprise.
After the formal presentation of his letters
of recall on Saturday last, Mr.. Hitchcock
had a long personal talk with the czar and
Count Muravieff, the Russian foreign min
ister He SCOTS at the idea that the czar' 8
peace propaganda is insI red by any but
the highest motives
Regarding the cZar's proposal looking to
the limitation of armaments, Mr.. Hitchcock
said: 1.-THE czar is nowise discouraged by
the reception of his plans for the checking
of the increase of armaments. He has not
any idea that he will achieve all he desires
Immediately, but he is firm in the belief
that his views must prevail in time and
a not distant time"
Hitchcock Was Delayed
Mr. Hitchcock was delayed for a fort
night by the difficulty he encountered in
arranging for a reception by the czar, on
account of the winter festivities, which
were in progress and in which the members
of the royal family participated actively,
the czar attending reunions of various
regiments and making addresses.
He will sail on Wednesday, but his family
will not go to Washington until the fall,
Mr.. Hitchcock not desiring to take house
there so near the close of the season. The
members of the retiring ambassadors fam
lily are now in Berlin and will spend some
time in Italy and at Constantinople. Mr..
Hitchcock will live at the Arlington hotel.
He will assume the duties of his new posi-
tion Immediately upon his arrival in Wash
ington. Regarding his selection by Pres-
dent Mckinley as Mr.. Bliss successor. he
remarked: my appointment was much
a surprise to me as it could have been to
the public"