Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-07
A RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT
Count Cassini Talks Interestingly on
International Questions.
NO INSTRUCTIONS as TO CHINA
Russian and American Interests
There Identical.
so UTH AFRICAN AR

IL ~
The Russian ambassador. Count Cassini,
who is just back from an extended visit to
Europe, was seen at the Russian embassy
today, and, putting aside the usual cautious
reserve of diplomacy, he talked in a most
entertaining manner on international Ques-
tons which have recently engaged public
attention. Some of his statements were CT
unusual Importance, as disclosing the gen.
era1 tendency of foreign nations concerning
China, as well as the Russian view that
Russia and the United States have common
interests in China, and that there Is no
evidence of any foreign move in the British
Boer conflict in South Africa.
Count Cassinfs name has been quite
prominently identified of late with the
Chinese situation. as it has been stated
that he would on his return here make
known to the President and Secretary Hay
the desire of the continental powers OF
Europe that the United States should indi-
cate what port or sphere of influence IN
China it desired to occupy. He was asked,
therefore, as to this report and in general
as to Russian and American interests in
China.
No Instructions to China
II saw many prominent public men while
in Europe, including Count Muravieff.
said Count Cassini, land l assure you that
this is the first time that l have heard
that such a proposition was to be submit
ted to the United States. In my talks at
ST. Petersburg Paris and elsewhere many
phases of the Chinese subject were dis
cussed but nothing, absolutely nothing, oc-
Cured to warrant any such report that
individually or with others have any special
inquiries to make concerning China. To be
this md all current TOPICS were
informally discussed, but it can be stated
positively that L return without any special
mission to perform and without instructions
relating to China"
Count Cassini said it was difficult to IN
derstand the recent agitation over an
open door in China.
80 lar Russia is concerned" said he,
her door stands open. The great CONNER
cial port of Talon wan has been made free
to the commerce of the world, by formal
proclamation. No determinations are made
against the commerce of foreign countries,
and Russia enjoys no special privileges at
this port Great sums have been set aside
for its development and extensive work is
now in progress to fit the port for the uses
of the worlds commerce. Russia is anxious
to have the world trade there. Why, there
fore, this talk to that open door, L
asked Lord Charles Beresford why the
open door was urged when the door was
already open"
Identity of Russian and American In
terests.
Concerning the identity of Russian and
American interests in China, Count Cassini
said Russia was now buying rails and rail-
road supplies from the United States to
build the transSiberian railroad through
Manchuria. Moreover. the ambassador
pointed out that there, as elsewhere, the
traditional friendship between the Russians
and the Americans, existed. They Like to
deal with each other and to buy of each
other, and Americans had things TO sell
that Russians wanted to buy for the deve-
opment of that region.
An Effort to Stir Up Trouble.
Count Cassini referred in this connection
to a story published today with a wealth
of headline and illustration as to probable
war between Russia and Japan over Korea.
This is a renewed effort to stir up trou-
bie," said ne. IF any one would know of
the imminence of such an affair | would
know. l have recently been talking with
our minister in Korea, Mr.. Pavloff, who
was charge d'affaireS at Pekin while l was
minister there, and he will be here in few
days en- route to Korea. The conditions in
Korea do not warrant any reports of fric-
ton between Russia and Japan. We have
entered into formal agreement concern
ing our undertakings in Korea, and this is
working with entIre satisfaction"
Count Cassini spent two weeks at st. Pc
tersburg, in the course of which he had an
the emperor of the continued friendly feel
ing existing between this country and Rus
sla the relations between the two govern
ments being, the ambassador says never
more satisfactory than they are today In
Paris Count Cassini saw NJ Cambon, the
French ambassador to Washington and
learned from him that despite the rumors
OF his being transferred to Berne, he would
return to Washington at an early day.
The south African War,
AS to the European sentiment concerning
the South African war, Count Cassini said:
'Of course, all Europe is watching this
conflict with profound interest and con-
Germ. But it is the interest of observers,
and there is no suggestion or thought of
any Intervention move of any kind from
outside quarters. The loss of life which is
occurring is particularly regretable, and it
is to the interest of all that peace should
be speedily restored"
Concerning the peace congress at The
Hague, assembled by the car, the ambas-
sador said that he had spoken with many
of the delegates, and the general view pre-
vailed that, While the congress was not as
complete success as had been hoped, yet
1t had had large measure of success and
mad made a long step forward in the di-
rection of preserving the continued peace
full relations between the nations of the
world.
Germany for an Open Door Policy.
BERLIN, November THE foreign Of
flee authorized the Associated Press to saw
regarding the United States governments
representations relative to maintaining the
open door in China, that Germany has
shown, by opening a free port at Kiao-
Chou and by Count Won BuioW's binding
declarations, that she favors live-and-Iet-
live policy in China.