The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-30
IMPOSED ()N
 MIR. CONGER Ministers AdviceS Were
 IncOTTcct. COUNT CAssrI TALKS Tells of Russia's objects Tn
 Manchuria. The Intsrssts of the unitsd statsr VIII Bo safssuardsd in 1vsry Way, Declares the csar's
 Ambassador.

churian incident was explained this eveu- ing by Count cassini. the Russian Ana- bassador. to representative of the As- sociated prssss and because of the con fiicting reports which have como to wasl,- irgton regarding shs Russian Chinese ne gotiations at Pekin. Count cassini has consented to the publication Of the inter- view.
 For Ave years Russian Minister to chi- na. Count Cassini is recognised author ity on conditions there Ills successful negotiations of the Afanchurian treaty. to which Russia owes largely the prestige she now holds in that territory, gave Count Cassini recognition as a world dip iomat before he came to Washington In lsss as Russia's first ambassador to tne United States.
 Since the Ambassador's cali on Eecre- tary Hay last Sunday afternoon. when he could give only unofficial assurances of Russia's intentions in Nfnnchurfa. he has received instructions from his gov ernment and yesterday afternoon again called on the Secretary to confirm off, cialiy the assurances he had given al- ready.
 Or the Manchurian incident and more especially Of It's relation to the United States and Russia. the Ambassador said tonight:
 American Interests safeguardsd.
 Acting under instructions from my government, have officially assured the Secretary of State not only that Ameri- can interests in Manchuria. trade and ln- dustriai, will be thoroughly safeguardsd. so far as Russia is concerned. but also of tho unfertunate erroneousness con tained in Minister Conger'a dispatches several days ago from Pekih relative to the course of Russta in 'Manchuria
 Tt is a matter of the keenest regret to my government that unreliable parties should have informed the United States Minister at Pekin on matter of which they were evidently grossly ignorant. And simultaneously with my call upon Sec retary Hay the Foreign ofiice at St. Pe- tersburg gave similar assurances to your Ambassador there, MT. Cormick.
 Because of the long standing and gen. eral friendliness. which without exception has characterized the relations of these great two countries, as well as in recog7 hilton of the frankness with which your Secretary of State has dealt with my government in all diplomatic matters. 1t was a pleasure for the Foreign Office to assure the United States regarding inter- national negotiations which we're pending with another power. oven ~ so doing all diplomatic precedent was broken. It was clear that your representative nad been misinforned, a matter which is regretted. I am sure. no less by your own govern ment than by Russia. But am not aware that any other powers have re- ceived from the Foreign once such q statement as was handed your Ambas- sador. . Manchuria will bear me out in the state- ment that the country needs the fmporta- ton of American goods for It's upbuild- ing. And certainly Russia, who is do- ing all she can to develop that great territory. would be the last to stand if 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 will be protected
 New Treaty Ports.
 "of the opening of new treaty ports fin Manchuria 1t Is impossible for me to speak at present. but it Is the earnest conviction of those best acquainted with the state of affairs there that such . move will not be to the best interests of the territory. Were the question sole ly a commercial one. # would be diner ent. But open 8 treaty port in Manchu" ria and close upon the heels of com- merce will follow political complications of all kinds which would increase the, threats to peace. At New Chwang this country has a treaty port and American trade in Manchuria is rapidly on the in- crease. I am told that 8 per cent of the cotton goods from the United States senf to China enters the Manchuria port of New Chwang. Because of the singuiarity of interests held by the United States in Manchurfa-for all the world realizes that yours is trade not territorial obtect-it lies within the power of your Government to exert powerful infiu- ence in the preservation of peace therd. Russia's desire is also for peace. not dis. turbances, in Manchuria, and 1t Is to thls end that negotiations are now proceed ing in Pekin in the effort to establish a condition of evacuation and to safeguaF-i Manchuria against a recurrence of ths troubles of 1900.
 Striking evidence Of the direct effecs in this country caused by unrest in Chi na was seen in 1900. when, l am tolGs many cotton mills in the United Staten were forced to shut down until condi tions in China were again normal. This fact. and the evidence the United States has already given of it's desire to make for peace. is sufficient assurance that the Washington Government will lend it's strong moral support to calm troubles wherever it has been aroused by the in. correct reports from Pekin.