The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-14

Ambassador Count Cassini
States RI ysia's Position.
TROOPS THERE ONLY
TO PRESERVE ORDER
Declares That Territory Will
Remain Part OF China.

Washington. March I3.-The Russian
ambassador. Count Cassini, was inter
viewed today conserving the reiterated
reports as to Russias designs on Man
churia. Count Cassim said he was not
authorized TO make any Official deciara-
ton on tho part of his government, but
in view OF the constant reports he con
scented to state his Individual views, based
on his long service in China and his IA
rniliarity with the general policy Russia
has consistently maintained toward
China.
The ambassador first called attention
TO the Chinese invasion OF Russian ter
ritory last summer. Thera is great
stretch of border between lhe Two en-
and over the Manchurian border the
Chinese forces. he said, poured, commit
ting deDredatiOns and threatening RuS-
sian interests. This invasion was OF sech
"A character. the ambassador SAID, mat
Russia would have been JustlIleu tneh
and there in declaring war against emma
and taking Manchuria. Such course
would have been justified by every pr1n-
ciple of international law, and the right
If Russia in this respect could not nave
been doubted b yany other nation
Count Cassini ADDED that II Russia had
been disposed to exercise this undouDted
right she had the military force on the
ground today to execute It. But auSSld
did not at that time take Manchurla,
and in that very fact, the ambassador
said, was the best answer 70 the present
reports of Russia's purpose 10 absorb
Manchuria If she mad not chosen to
take Manchuria when the opportunity
was open and clear, why should there be
any step in that direction now?
Why Troops Are There.
The ambassador said that frequent ref
erence was being made in foreign pubilca-
lions and in thls country to the presence
Of Russian troops in Manchuria. and
writer's expressed some surprise at their
presence there. Why are Russian troops
IN Manchuria? was frequently asked IN
reply. the ambassador said; why are
German troops, British troops, American
troops and other troops in PekinE
There seemed to be no surprise aoouI
this latter condition, and yet It was eX-
actly parallel TO the pres6 nee OF the rus
sian troops in Manchurla IN eacn case
depredationS were being committed, tor-
eign interests were in jeopardy and each
nation sent its troops TO give due protec-
ton to the lives and property of its peo-
pie and to prevent the recurrence OF olS-
order.
GERS at one time had been driven away
from work along the Trans-Siberian rail-
way. with its spurs southward TO FoTt
Arthur and eastward to NladiVosJOck- II
was necessary to give adequate protec-
ton to the engineers and TO the railway
Count Cassini pointed out the extent
of this great enterprise, with its benefits
of traffic not only to Russia but to the
completion within the next fourteen
months. He said there was not the slight
est question as to the right of Russia to
construct the line across ChlneSe terri
tory. and with its authority came the
necessity of protecting the line and the
inter sts connected with 1t against depre-
Inquiry was made of Count Cassini as
10 the specific report that an agreement
about to be concluded between Russia
and China
Says Reports Are Fabrioations.
The arnl,assador- suggested that such re-
ports must be taken with a great deal OF
allowance, particularly If they emanated
from Shanghai which, according TO his
own experience, he said, was point
whence fabricatiOnS were sent out. He
!. and in the absence of such advice he did
not. he said, feel at liberty to discuss
the subject.
But on general principles, he pointed
out, that any agreement or understand
ing which Russia might make with China
would involve two essential features
namely. first. adequate protection for
Russian interests in Manchuria, in order
/ that there might be no repetition of dis
and, second, the maintenance OF Chinese
/ territorial integrity.
! AS FAR back as Aug. %, Count Cassini
I pointed out. the Russian minister OF FOR
! eign affairs. in d formal note had an
nOunCed clearly and distinctly the policy
/ Of Russia in regard to Manchuria IN
| accordance with that declaration, IL could
not be doubted that when order had beer
| established in Manchuria and measures
] taken Tor the pFOIGctlOn OF railway con
/ structiOn Russia would recall her troops
! from ManchCria, provided the action o
| other powers did not place an obstacle
1 in the way of such a measure.
] The ambassador remarked that there
| was really no occasion for renewing at
] tention to this note of Aug. 25 any NOR,
| than there was need of reiterating the
/ declaration of other notes exchanged a
! that time. But, II the view OF the am
bassador, that note made # clear tha
| whatever might be the understanding a:
| TO Manchuria, that territory would re
| main a part OF China.