The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-14
HAS NO INTENTION TO ANNEX
HAS HERETOFORE HAD ROTH THE
PROVOCATION AND THE
POWER TO DO so
PROTECTION TO A RAILROAD.
Says Count Cassini, Will Necessitate
an Armed Force, but Chinese
Territorial Integrity Is Not
to Be Invaded.

WASHINGTON, March 13-The Rns1
sian ambassador, Count Cassini, was seen
today concerning the reiterated reports
as to Russia's designs on ManchurIa
Count Cassini said he was not authorized
tU make any official declaration on tna
Part OF his government, but in view OF
the constant reports he consented to state
his individual views, based upon I7s rrne
service In China and his familiarity with
the general policy of Russia mad consist
emily maintained toward China.
The ambassador first called attention to
the Chinese invasion of Russian territory
last summer. There is a great stretch
OF border between the two empires. about
5000 kilometers in length, and over The
Manchurian border the Chinese forces
he said, poured committing depredations
and threatening Russian interests. This
invasion was of such a character, the
ambassador said, that Russia would have
been justified then and there in declaring
war against China and taking Manchuria
Such course would have been Justified
by every principle of international law.
and the right of Russia in this respect
could not have been doubted by any other
nation.
HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY. :
Count Cassini added that if Russia had
been disposed to exercise this undoubted
right she had the military force on tho
ground ready to execute it. But Russia
did not at that time take Manchuria, and
in that very fact, the amba ssador said
was the best answer to the present re-
ports of Russ1a's purposes to absorb
Manchuria. If she had not chosen to
take Manchuria when the opportunity.
was open and clear, why should there be-
any step in that direction now?
The ambassador said that frequent ref.
erence was being. made in foreign publ
cations and in this country as to presence
of Russian troops in Manchuria. and
writers expressed some surprise at their
presence there. Why are Russian troops
in Manchurfa? was frequently asked. In
reply the ambassador said:
''Why are German troops, British
trCcps, American troops and other troops
in Pekin?''
LIKENEn TO STATUS IN PEKIN. 7
/ There seemed to be no surprise about.
this latter condition, and yet Il was ex-
actly parallel to the presence of Rus
sian troops in Manchuria In each case
depredations were being committed, for
eign- n-interests were in jeopardy and each
nation sent it's troops to give due pro-
lection to the lives. and property OF it's
people and to prevent the recurrence OF
disorder. In Manchurta the Russian civil
engineers at one time had been driven
away from work along the Trans-Si-
berian railway, with it's spurs southwark
to Port Arthur and eastward to Vlad-
ivcstok. 1t was necessary to give ade-'
quate protection to these engineers and
to the railway as. well. Count Casint
pointed out the extent of this great en-1
terprise, with it's benefits of traffic not
only to Russia, but to the world at
large, and the prospect of its completion,
within the next fourteen months. He
w ho eli ioht
tion as to the right of Russia to con-
struct the line across Chinese territory,
and with this authority came the neces-
sity of protecting the line and the in
terests connected with it against depre--
dation n
SHANGHAI RUMORS DTSCREDITED.
Inquiry was made of Count Cassini as
to the specific report that an agreement,
containing a number Of articles, was
about to be concluded between Russia.
and China.
The ambassador suggested that such
reports must be taken with a great deal
of allowance, particularly if they emanatA
ed from Shanghai. But on general prn-
ciples he pointed out that any agreement
or understanding which Russia might
make with China would involve two es-
sential features-namely first, adequate
protection for Russian interests in Man
churia in order that there might be no
repetition of disorder and danger to life
and property; and. second the MAIN
tenance of China's territorial integrity
AS far back as Aug. 25 Count Cassni
pointed out the Russian minister of for
eign affairs in a formal note had an
nounced clearly and distinctly the policy
of Russia i'll regard to Manchuria. In
accordance with that declaration, it
could not be doubted that when order
had been established in Manchuria and
measures taken for the protection of rail-
way construction, Russia would recall her
troops from Manchuria, provided the ac-
tion of other powers did not place an
obstacle in the way of such a measure.