The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-09

the Chinese IS absolutely necessary be-
fore the dignity Of the court will per-
NIT it to come back to Pekin.f
CASSINI CAN'T UNDERSTAND ITs
New York, March 9.-A special to the
Herald from washington says:
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa :
dor cannot understand the reports that
Russia has Interior designs in Aanchur-
ia In an interview he said:
There ought to be no doubt concern
ing the position of Russia in Chinese af-
fairs. Her attitude is the same today as
1t was ON August IS last when she de-
clared that as soon as lasting order
shall have been esta blfshed in Manchur
il, and Indispensable measures taken for
the protection Of railway construction
which, according to formal agreement,
China has assured Russia VIII not fan
to recall her troops from those territDr-
les of the neighboring empire, providing
that the action Of the other powers does
not place any obstacle in the way of
such a measure
Our railroad interests in Manchurta
are very valuable and highly important
not only to our own trade. but to the
trade of America and other nations, and
as Count LamsdOrf has said, it is nee
essary for the Russian military authori-
ties TO arrange with the Chinese. when
reinstating them in authority, a modus
yivendi to prevent a recurrence of dis
turbances near the Russian frontier
and insure the protection of the railway
ssRussia's policy has shown that she
does not contemplate seizing Manchuria.
Had she desired its acquisition. a pre-
text could have been found in the inva-
sion of her territory by the Chinese. Yhe
best proof that she has no ulterior de-
signs is shown both by her refusal to
take advantage Of this pretext, and her
cordial cooperation with the United
States and other nations to restore peace
and order throughout the Chinese en-
pire.''
WASHINGTON STILL BELIEVES IN
RUSSIA.
Washington March 9.-The official
sp0ndence that has passed between
the state department and the. several
powers interested in the Chinese question
discloSes the fact that Russia, suspected
as she is BY England and perhaps by
some other powers, of planning to seize
and hold Manchuria as her own, has
upon every occasion when opportunity
served to draw forth a statement of her
motives declared emphatica1Iy that she
had no such purpose
On the 18th ult- the United States
addressed strong representations to
China through Mr. Conger and Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang. China was
told that the United States could not
China and any individual power looking
to the concession of territory to such
power. And it was further insisted that
to be valid any such concession of ter
ritOry should be given only with the as
sent Of all other powess. To still further
emphasize the wal Ining against the be-
ginning of a division of China, It was
significantly stated that the United
States did not regard the present as
an opportune time for making any con-
cessions of territory or even for con-
Quoting negotiations for such eonees-
sions.
On March ]. the senate department took
steps to acquaint every one Of the pow
ers interested in China with the instruc-
ti0ns it had given Mr.. Conger. The re-
suit was to elicit from nearly all of them
expressions of approval Of the doctrine
laid down by the United States and fore
most among the powers which accepted
it was Russia.
The United States government has not
entered into any secret or open agree
ment with Great Britain or with any in
dividual power however strongly it may
sure Manchuria against seizure On
the beginning discourage such special
alliances as to China and has adopted
the practice Of informing tile powers of
the probable contents of any statement
it has addressed to any one of them. It
is felt here that the greatest strength Of
our position has lain in this frank and
open method of negotiations and there
is no disposition to abandon it now.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador,
called at the state department today and
was cIoseted with Secretary Hay for
half an hour. Although no statement
can be extracted as to the nature of the
it is believed that the am
bassador took occasion to again assert
the sincerity and prOpriety of Russia's
purpose relative to Manchuria.