The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-14
RUSSIA AND CHINA
COUNT CAsSiNI DISCUSSES MAN
CHURIAN MATTER.
CHINA'S INVASION OF RUSSIA.
WHY FOREIGN TROOPS ARE NOW
IN CHINA.


ply Taken Steps for the Protection
OF Its Property and the Preserva-
tiOn of Order in Manchuria-The
willy Minister Claims to BE in Ig-
nOrance of the Manchurian Agree
ment-Russin VIII Retire From
Manchuria When Proper Time Ar
rives.
Washington, March 1S.- The Russian
ambassador, Count Cassini, was seen to-
day concerning the reiterated reports as
to Russia's designs on Manchuria. Count
Cassini said that he was not authorized
to make any official declaration on the
part of his government, but in view of the
constant reports he consented to state his
individual views, based upon his long
service in China and his familiarity with
the general policy Russia has consistently
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 in
vasion was of such a character, the am
bassador said, that Russia would have
been justified then and there in declaring
war against China and taking Manchuria.
Such a 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. Count Cassni added that if Rus
sia had been disposed to exercise this un-
doubted right, she had the military force
on the ground ready to execute it,
But Russia did not at that time take
Manchuria, and in that very fact, the
amba assador said, was the best answer to
the present reports of Russia's purposes
to absorb Manchuria.
Why Troops Are in Manchuria.
Why are Russian troops in Manchuria?
was frequently asked In reply the am
bassador asked: Why are German troops,
British troops, American troops and 9TH
er troops in Pekin? There seemed to be
no surprise about this latter condition,
and yet it was exactly parallel to the
presence of Russian troops in Manchuria.
In each case depredations were being
committed. foreign interests were in
jeopardy, and each nation sent its troops
to give due protection to the lives and
properties of it's people and to prevent
| the recurrence of disorder. In Man
churia the Russian civil engineers at one
time had been driven away from work
along the trans-Siberian Railway, with
its spurs southward to Port Arthur and
eastward to Vladivostock. 1t was nee
essary to give adequate protection to
| these engineers and to the railway as
well.
Russia's Right to Construct Line.
Count Cassini said there was not the
! slightest question as to the right of
! Russia to construct the line across Chi
nese territory, and with this authority
came the necessity of protecting the line
! and the interests connected with it
| against depreciation.
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 re-
ports must be taken with great deal of
| allowance He was not advised on any
| such agreement and in the absence or
| such advice did noS he said, feel at lib
erty 10 discuss the subjects. But on gen.
| eral principles he pointed out that any
/ agreement or understanding, which Rus
sia might make with China, would in
| volve two essential features, namely, first,
adequate protection for Russian interests
1 in Manchuria, in order that there might
| be no repetition of disorder and danger
to life and property, and, second, the
maintenance of China's territorial integ-
| rity.
AS far back as Aug. %, Count Cassini
pointed out, the Russian minister of for
eign affairs, in a formal note, had an
nounced clearly and distinctly the policy
of Russia in regard to Manchuria. In ac-
cordance with that declarati it could
not be doubted that when order had been
established in Mauchuria and measures
taken for the protection of railway con-
struction Russia would recall her troops
from Manchuria provided the action OF
other Powers did not place an obstacle
| in the way of such a measure.