The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-12
GLAD TO RETURN
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR LIKES ErS
POST AT WASHINGTON.
He Says His Government Is Anxious to
Retain the Friendship of the
United States.

NEW YORK, Nov. 11.-Before departing
for Washington to-day. Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, in an interview, spoke
of the pleasure he felt in being continued
in his post at Washington, the friendly
feeling of Russia and Russians toward the
United States, and the position of Russia
in the Macedonian situation, asking to be
excused, however, from commenting on the
far Eastern situation, on the ground of his
recent arrival and lack of late Information
on the subject.
In regard to a Tien-Tsin dispatch to the
london Daily Mail that Russia was evacu-
ating Korea, he took occasion to say that
Russia had no troops in Korea itself, hav-
ing only small adjacent stations at Masan-
pho and Chemulpo. The feeling of Russia
toward America was. he said. one of the
utmost friendship. though the feeling of
the Russians had been somewhat wounded
by the American attitude in the Kishinef
incident, and the American petition, the
effect of which he compared with a Rus
sian petition on the race problem in
America. The whole incident, he hoped.
was now closed and in it's grave. He
spoke Of the present Panama situation as
interesting and important, but could give
no Information about Russia's attitude.
Count Cassini, when shown a dispatch
from Paris intimating that NJ. Nelidoff.
until recently Russian ambassador at
Rome, would probably be transferred to
the vacant post at Paris, in connection
with which Count Cassini's name has been
mentioned, expressed no surprise, saying
that he had heard of the matter while in
Paris, and continued with a statement of
his pleasure in returning to Washington.
which is now, he said. regarded as one of
the most important posts in the Russian
W attitude, he declared that he had
come to Washington prepared to be a firm
friend of the United States, but was aston
ished to find In some quarters a feeling of
enmity which had made his first few
months there rather uncomfortable. He
was apparently believed by some. he said.
to be an adherent of the Machiavelian
school of diplomacy, whereas, on the con-
trary,. he believed that perfect frankness
was an essential in diplomatic affairs, espe-
cially toward the United States. with
which Russia had been on terms of long
continued friendship, and purposed to con-
tinue the good relations which had always
existed. Not only was the Russian gov
eminent friendly. but the same feeling
existed among the Russian people, and an
American bishop with whom he had talked
after a stay of several months In Russia
had commented on this. But IL has been
somewhat strained in the last few MONTHS"
he said, ION account of the Kishineff incl
dent
The refusal of the Russian government
to receive the American petition could be
easily understood by imagining with what
spirit a petition from Russians in regard
to the negro troubles In the South would
he received. Now, however. the whole
incident is settled, and, let us hope, in its
grave" he concluded.
In regard to the situatiof in Macedonia.
he said that Russia stood firmly for the
maintenance of peace and order I'm the
and would insist upon a reservation of good
government and order there.