The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-14
COUNT CASSINI AGAIN
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES
THE MANCHURIAN QUESTION.
He Believes the Cars Troops VIII BE
when Order Is
Fully Restored.

WASHINGTON. March 13.-The Russian
ambassador. Count Cassini. was seen to-
day concerning the reiterated reports as TO
Russia's designs on Manchuria. Count Cas-
sinf said 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 atten-
ton to the Chinese invasion of Russian ter
ritory 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 inva-
sion was such. the ambassador said. that
Russia, at that time, would have been jus
titled by international law. in declaring
war against China and taking Manchuria.
But Russia did not, at tina time, take Man
churia, this being, the ambassador said, the
best answer to the present reports of Rus
sia's purposes to absorb Manchuria.
As to the Russian troops now in Man
churia, the ambassador said: 'Why are
German troops. British troops. American
troops and other troops in Peking? There
seems to be no surprise about this. and yet
it is exactly parallel to the presence of
Russian troops in Manchuria. In each case
depredations were being committed, for
eign interests were in jeopardy, and each
nation sent its troops to protect the lives
and property of it's people. In Manchuria
the Russian civil engineers at one time had
been driven away from work along the
Transsiberian Railway, with its spurs
southwark to Port Arthur and eastward to
Vladivostock. 1t was necessary to give ade-
quate protection to these engineers and TO
the railway as WE'LL"
Count Cassini pointed out the extent of
this great enterprise, with its benefits Of
traffic not only to Russia, but to the world
est question as TO the right of Russia to
construct the line across Chinese territory.
AS TO the report that an agreement was
about to be concluded between Russia and
reports must be taken with a great deaf
OF allowance, particularly il they emanated
from Shanghai. He was not advised of
any such agreement, and did not feel 1T
liberty to discuss the subject. But on gem
eral principles he pointed out that any
agreement or arrangement Russia might
make with China would involve adequate
protection for Russian interests in Man
churia and maintenance of China's terri
tCrial integrity. AS far back as Aug. p,
Count CaSSini pointed out, the Russian
minister of foreign affairs, in a formal
note, had announced clearly and distinctly
the policy of Russia in regard to Man
churia. In accordance with that declar-
alton, it could not be doubted that when
order had been established in Manchuria
and measures taken for the protection OF
every construction Russia would recall her
troops from Manchuria. provided the &C
ton of other powers did not place an OBJ
stacle in the way of such a measure.