The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-30
Cassini's Explanation. Z

Count Cassini the Russian ambassador
at washington. undertook yesterday to.
explain the Peking dispatch which has
caused such breeze among the powers
having interests in China and Manchuria.'
The Count is most plausible explainer.s
Since Russia occupied Manchtria in 1900.
he has been explaining and assuring pro -s
fusely that Russia has only in the
interest of peace. Yesterday, he reiter-.
ated his former assurances that the trade
interests of the United States would be
sedulously guarded, taking pains to state.
that American interests were trade inter-
ests and not territorial interests. He made
no allusion to evacuation except to say
that his government was negotiating with
condition Of evacuation and to safeguard
Manchuria against repetition Of the
troubles of 1900"
Count Cassini knows that not soldier
has been withdrawn from either Of the
three provinces of Manchuria; he knows
that the ''evacuation'' which Russia has
effected is simply the transfer Of her
troops in the great cities Of Manchuria a
short distance to the railway concessions
outside the walls, to guard the railways
permanently. What the Count means by
"a condition Of evacuation Is really the
tightening Of Russia's grip upon the three
provinces. & : .2.,
Our government has distinctly form
ulated it's policy as to Russian aggression
and our trade interests in China. In July,
1900, our government declared: to the pow
ers its purpose to preserve Chinese terri
torial and administrative entity and safe
guard for the world the principle OF equal
and impartial trade with all parts Of the
Chinese empire. .A.. -....~..
Count Cassini assures us that our trade
interests will not be interfered with, as
Russia wants our products. But, at tho
same time, he gives no definite reply to
the query about opening new ports, as de-
manded of China, by our government. The
opening of Mukden and Takushan, he af-
firms, will not be for the best in
terests Of the territory. Who is
to be the judge of what is best for Man
churian interests: Russia, thru Cassini,
speaks In proprietary language. The
notes and circulars Of our government
concede no such proprietary right.
We have no territory in China, but we
have declared for the territorial integrity
of China. We have increasing trade in
terests In China which will be enhanced by
the maintenance Of such integrity. But
CT, 1,ar To #
Russia from Manchuria, which,, whatever
Count Cassini may say, is rapidly ap-
preaching the condition OF a Russian
province. Germany and France have no
idea Of interfering with Russia's designs
in North China. Those powers have their
spheres in China. Great Britain is, by
treaty with Japan. bound to protest
against Russian aggression, but the for
mer has only recently emerged from q
three Years war with e. tremendous bur
den Of debt upon her, and Japan would
have to content herself with Korea, which
Russia would very freely accord her the
privilege Of occupying.
2 What our government can accomplish
in making "a strong protest against Rus
sian bad faith, is to obtain large COM
mercial advantages from Russia as COM
pensation. We can, indeed, under the
treaty with China st 1858, yet in operas
tion> obtain all the privileges touching
commerce and navigation or political in
tercourse which China accords to any
other nation.
Mayor Haynes has done we'll in vetoing
| a subway ordinance, which was not care
full enough of the citys interests. The