The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-30
Count Cassini Explains Russia's s
 Altitude in Manchuria
PEnN DISPATCHES FALSE
czar's Ambassador Assures Secretary Hay That American Trade and h. dustries In the Territory VIII
 Not Be Jeopardlzed.

Not Be JeopardIzed.
 Washington, April 2s.-Russia's part in what has come t, be known as the Man churian incident vas explained this af- ternoon by Count casslni the Russian ambassador to a representative of the Associated Press. and because of the conflicting reports which have come to Washington regarding the Russian-Chi- nese negotiations at Pelxin, Count Cas- sini has consented to the publication of the interview.
 Five years minister to China, the Count Cassini is a recognized authority on condi- tions there. His successful negotiation of the Manchurian treaty to which Rus sia owes largely the prestige she now holds in that territory, gave Count Cas- sini recognition as world diplomat be- fore he came to Washington In 1898 as Russia's first ambassador to the United States
 Gives Assurances.
 Since the ambassadors call on Secre- tary Hay last Sunday afternoon when he could give only unofficial assurances of Russlas intentions in Manchuria, he has received instructions from his government and yesterday afternoon called on the secretary to confirm officially the assur- rances he had given already. Of the Manchurian incident and more especial ly of It's relation to the United States and Russia, the ambassador said tonight;
 Acting under instructions from my government have officially assured the secretary of state not only that American interests in Manchuria, trade and indus trial, will be thoroughly safe-guarded so far as Russia Is concerned but also of the unfortunate erroneous news contained in Minister Conger's dispatches several days ago from Pekin relative to the course of Russia in Manchuria.
 Tt Is t matter of the ksenest regret to my government that unreliable parties should have informed the United States minister at Pekin on a matter of which they were evidently grossly ignorant. And simultaneously with my call upon Secre- tary Hay, the foreign office at St. Peters burg gave similar assurances to your ambassador there, MT. Mccormick. precedents Broken.
 Because of the long-standing and gen- eral friendliness which without exception has characterized the relations of these two great countries, as well as in recog- nition of the frankness with which your secretary of state has dealt with my gov ernment in all diplomatic matters, 1t was a pleasure for the foreign office to assure the United States regarding international negotiations which were pending with another power, even though in so doing all diplomatic precedent was broken. 1t was clear that your representative had been misinformed, matter which Is re- gretted, I am sure, no less by your own government than by Russia. But I am not aware that any other powers have received from the foreign office such a statement as was handed your ambassa- dor.
 Those acquainted with conditions in Manchuria will bear me out in the state .ment that the country needs the impor- tation of American goods for it's upbuild- ing. And certainly Russia, who Is doing all she can to develop that great terri tory, would be the last to stand in the way of an increase in this trade. We need American steel. lumber, cotton goods and construction material of all kinds, and this fact, together with the traditional good relations prevailing be- tween Russia and the United States, Is sufficient assurance that American trade interests in Manchuria VIII be protected.
 Open Ports Would Be Dangerous.
 "Of the opening of new treaty ports in Manchuria 1t Is impossible for me to speak at present, but 1t Is the earnest conviction of those best acquainted with the state of affairs there that such a move will not be to the best interests of the territory. Were the question solemn ly thought of 1t would be defeated. But open a treaty port in Manchuria and close upon the heels of commerce will follow political complications of all kinds which would increase the threats to peace. At New Chwang this country has treaty port and American trade in Manchuria is rapidly the increase. I am told that per cent of the cotton goods from the United States sent to China enters the Manchurian port of New Chwang.
 Because of the singularity of interests held by the United States in Manchuria- for all the world realizes that yours Is a trade not a territorial one-it lies within the power of your government to exercise a powerful influence in the preservation of peace there Russia's desire is also for peace not disturbances, fin Manchuria, and 1t is to this end that negotiations are now pending in Pekin in the effort to establish condition of evacuation and to safeguard Manchuria against recurrence of the troubles of 1900 Strk- Ing evidence of the direct effect In this country caused by unrest in China was seen in l900 when l am told many cotton mills in the United States were forced to shut down until conditions in China were again normal This fact and the evidence that the United States has already given of its desire to make for peace is suffi- cient assurance that the Washington gov ernment will lend it's strong moral sup port to calm trouble wherever 1t has been aroused by incorrect reports from Pekin." e
 Unwarranted and False.
 Paris, April 29.-Count Lamsdorf. the Russian foreign minister has advised the authorities here that the recent reports of Russian designs on Manchuria were un- warranted and false. He says Russia is now taking steps looking to the military evacuation of Manchuria and desires pre- vious to the evacuation to secure reason able assurances of the preservation of order and the protection of her interests The note says NJ. Lessar, the Russian minister to China, Is now in St. Peters, burg, but owing to his illness he has not yet had an audience with the czar or re- ceived his instructions.