The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-05
SAYS RUSSIA IS
A TRUE FRIEND
Ethan Allen Hitchcock
Returning.
KIND WORDS FOR THE CAR
YOUNG PoTENTATE SINCERE IN
DISARMAMENT PLAN.
Is Not Discouraged and Believes His
Views Must Prevail at
Not Far Distant
Time.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LONDON, Feb. 4-Ethan Allen
Hitchcock, the retiring American En-
bassador to Russia, who was recently
appointed 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 a rep
resentative of the Associated Press Mr.
Hitchcock denounced emphatically the
stories current since the beginning of
the Hispano-American 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 unfound-
ed" said Mr.. Hitchcock. There has
never been single item of proof pro-
duced to substantiate them, and. on the
contrary, Russia has been most friendly
toward the United States and has
manifested that friendship during the
past years in many ways, of which my
position forbids me to speak. Unfortu-
nately the Russian Government is so
constituted that it cannot do much
talking in such cases as the present,
but can only wait for time to afford op-
portunities for proving the truth.
when these opportunities arise it's
friendship will be demonstrated. The
false impressions which have arisen
are very unfortunate and, l think. are
largely due to the utterances Of Rus
sian newspapers, certain of which are
popularity supposed to be official or
gans, whereas the supposition is ut
terly unfounded, as they represent the
har MI ont
sections of the American press repre-
sent that Government.
In criticiZing domestic politics the
Russian papers must be most cautious,
but wnel it comes to foreign affairs
they are allowed degree of liberty
and even license which surprised me.
OF course, they say things that inter-
fere with the Governments plans, and
they may be cautioned and told that
they are injudicious, but ordinarily
they are entirely unhampered."
Like many persons making the ac-
quaintance of the Car, Mr.. Hitchcock
has a profound admiration for the
potentate, and expresses himself
strongly as to his frankness, 81 lccrity
and enterprise.
After the formal presentation of his
letters of recall on Saturday last Mr..
Hitchcock had a long personal talk
with the Car and Count Muravieff, the
Russian Foreign Minister. He SCOTS
at the idea that the Cars peace pro-
paganda is inspired by any but the
highest motives. Regarding the Cars
proposal looking to the limitation of
ornaments, Mr. Hitchcock said:
THE Car is in no wise discouraged
by the reception of his plans for check
ing 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 distant time"
Mr.. Hitchcock was delayed for a fort
night by the difficulty he encountered
in arranging for reception by the
Gar, on account of the winter festivi-
ties which were in progress. and in
which the members of the royal family
participated actively. the Gear attend