The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-24
ALL THE WORLD IS WATCHING CHINA
MOURNED IN PARIS BY OPPO-
NENTS OF ENGLAND
HE WAS A FRIEND OF FRANCE
Frenchmen Join with Other Nations
in Demanding Punishment of
the Chinese Who HIVE
Invited 1T.

Copyrighted by the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 23.-The sudden death of
Count Muravieff, Russian minister of
foreign affairs, the strong buIwark of
the Franco-Russian alliance, has caused
deep concern among the members of the
French official and political world. Count
MuraV;eff was a bitter antagonist of
England, and in him Frence felt that she
had an influential friend in the event of
difficulties with Great Britain. The cor
dial relations of the foreign offices of
Russia and France, moreover, have not
rested oR a purely political basis. A
great element of strength was found in
the personal friendship existing between
NJ Delcasse, French minister of foreign
affairs, and Count Muravieff, and to the
former the loss of his friend came as a
severe blow The removal Of CoDnt
Muravieff from the council of the ozar
is gravely commented upon by the French
press, and the hope expressed that
the policy of Russia will not be affected
thereby, or that the Russo-Franco alli-
ance should not be affected by the chop
ping off of it's strongest support NJ.
Delcasse talking with a correspondent
of the Associated Press, set aside those
fears, laying stress on the fact that
while the personal feelings of Muravief
were of great value in cementing SYM
yet the real foreign minister was the
car and he has given repeated tokens
OF sincere friendship for France. There
fore, according to NJ. Delcasse, French
men could regard the political future
with perfect serenity.
A warm appreciation of Count Mura-
vieff was expressed to the correspondent
of the Associated Press today by Charles
H. Hutchinson and Martin Ryerson, who,
with Charles Crane and President w F.
Harper, all of Chicago, recently had an
interview with Count Muravieff and the
cZar.
AMERICAS FRIEND.
''America has lost a sincere admirer In
Count Muravieff," said Mr.. Hutchinson.
1--WE found him man Of great scholar
ly attainment, and unusually conVersant
with affairs in the United States, and
with American institutions. It was graft
flying to us to learn of his acquaintance
with the educational Institutions of our
country. Our interview with the czar
we consider more of a compliment to
Mr. Towers relations towards the Rus
sian court than to ourselves. 1t left
us with a thorough impression that the
cZar was man of a strong, progressive
mind and although hampered In Sui!lIl-
ment Of his ideas by traditions and his
deep-rooted interests in the aristocracy
yet in the course of time he Will un-
doubtedIy reach the goal to which he Is
working and place his country In the
very vanguard of commercial and So
cial progress We found in the czar
none of the cold reserve usually asso-
ciated with monarchs. He has a frank,
candid manner and is kindly in speech.
Sneaking of their reception among the
Russians generally they emphasized the
hospitality of the nation and the evldent
desire to aid foreigners in securing tnfor-
nation about their country. To an
American there was nothing of that an
tipathy to aliens so noticeable towards
aliens in many countries.
EMPRESS DOWAGER BLAMED.
The evil drawn over events In Pek
by the interruption Of communication
serves to increase the anxiety felt here.
Little doubt is now felt that the empress
dowager is at the bottom of all the mis-
chief and the belief is gaining ground
that she and her reactionfst advisers VIII
ere long be hoist By their own petard
Indications point that the powers, II SUD
sequent developments prove clearly thaC
the empress doWager is implicated, Will
depose her clear out her anti-foreign
councillors, nominate new emperor with
an advisory council composed of progress
sive Chinese. Nothing will be done until
Pekin is relieved and the present insur-
rection is suppressed. The papers are
urging the government to strengthen It's
hold upon the southern provinces, which
adjoin the French Tonquinese possession.
The French government recognizes that 1t
may be called upon to play a leading part
in European Intervention. AS foreign
official said to a representative OF the
Associated Press:
apart from general interest in COM
mon with the other great powers, France
has three special interests, the protection
of the missionaries throughout China, the
protection Of French investments and
the mines and other industries of Sze Chu-
an province, which amount to several
hundred million francs, and the French
built railway of Chuan Nan. Part of the
troops which France is sending to China
will go to Taku, and the remainder, II
necessary, will be used In the southern
provinces which come within the French
sphere of influence. The French govern
ment is extremely anxious regarding the
safety Of the French consul and the gath
oring of French subjects with him at Yu-
ang Nan Tu. Latest dispatches state they
are in less peril than week ago. but they
will not be out of danger until they reach
French territory"
M. Delcasse, minister of foreign af-
fairs, speaking upon this subject, gave it
as his opinion that the powers first duty
was to overcome the rebellion and insure
the safety of French citizens aad other
foreigners.
''Endeavors should then" said NJ Del
casse, ''be made to establish a govern
ment, but with the cooperation of the
other governments. If the empress dow
ager was found to be impossible, a joint
protectorate might be the outcome or
possibly the joint selection of some indi-
vidual to govern, backed by the forces Of
all the powers, the last resort being the
division of the empire"