The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-30
RUSSIA DENIES 1T
NOT AFTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN
MANCHURIA.
NO SUCH DEMANDS MADE
AS WE'RE REPORTED FROM THE
CHINESE CAPITAL.

Russian Minister for Foreign Az
fairs Made the Denial to Ambas-
sadOr Mccormick at ST. Peters,
burg-Russian Ambassador Mt
Washington Also Assured Secre-
tary Hay of the Error of the Re-
pOrt-United States Welcome in
Manchuria.
Washington, April 29.-The State
Department has received a dispatch
from Ambassador Mccormick at St.
Petersburg to the effect that the Rus
sian minister for foreign affairs has
assured him that the Published reports
of the proposed convention between
Russia and China relating to Manchu-
ria are absolutely incorrect, and that
there is no foundation for the report
that Russia demands that China shall
refuse the requests of other powers
for treaty ports and consulates in
Manchuria.
He has been assured that the Rus
sian government has no intention to
exclude other countries from advan-
tages now enjoyed in Manchuria, or to
confer exclusive privileges upon Rus
slams; that the United States may be
sure that nothing will be done to close
doors now open and that American
commerce and American capital are
those which Russia most desires to
attract. 1t is understood also that sim
liar assurances were received by the
Sacratarxy Of Ctata from HE avcaIancx,
the Russian ambassador yesterday aft
ernoon.
These advices have done much to re-
move the feeling of anxiety and APP
prehension which was aroused in
Washington by the first reports from
Pekin of Russia's intention to dominate
Manchuria. The officials are glad to
take the Russian disclaimer just as it
comes, without stopping to raise any
point as to whether there has not real
ly been a complete change in the Rus
sian demands, rather than an error
in the original statement from Pekin.
There is no disposition to be hypocrit-
zeal, but the fact that nothing is said
about Russian evacuation according to
the original treaty will, of couse, just
ify our government in keeping a close
watch on North China and Mongolia,
as we'll as Manehuria.
Count Cassinf Explains.
Russia's part in what has come to
be known as the Manchurian incident
was explained this evening by Count
Cassini the Russian ambassador, to
q representative of the Associated
Press, and because of the conflicting
reports which have come to Washing
ton regarding the Russian-Chinese
negotiations at Pekin, Count Cassiui
has consented to the publication of
the interview. The ambassador said
tonight:
Acting under instructions from my
government l have officially assured
the Secretary of State not only that
American interests in Manchuria,
trade and industrial, will be thorough
ly safeguarded, so far as Russia is
concerned, but also of the unfor-
tunate erroneousnesS contained in
Minister Conger's dispatches several
days ago from Pekin relative to the
course of Russia in Manchuria.
Those acquainted with conditions in
Manchuria will bear me out in the
statement that the country needs the
Importation of American goods for it's
upbuilding. And certainly Russia, who
is doing all she can to develop the
great territory, would be the Fast 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 re-
lations prevailing between Russia and
the United States, is sufficient assur-
ance that American trade interests in
Manchuria will be protected.
a..
in Manchuria, it is impossible for me
est conviction of those best acquaint-
ed with the state of affairs there that
, such a move will not be to the best
Interests of the territory. Were the
question solely a commercial one, it
would be different; but open a treaty
port in Manchuria and close upon the
heels of commerce will follow poIiti-
cal complications of all kinds, which
would increase the threats to peace.
At New Chang this country has
treaty port and American trade in
Manchuria is rapidly on the increase.
Il am told that so per cent. of the
cotton goods from the United States
sent to China enters the Manchurian
port of New Chang.
influence of United states.
Because of the singularity of inter-
est held by the United States in Man
churia-for all the world realizes that
yours is a trade. not a territorial one
it lies within the power of your gov
eminent to exert a powerful influence
in the preservation of peace there Rus
sias desire is also for peace, not in
the disturbances in Manchuria, and 1t
is to this end that negotiations are
now proceeding. in Pekin in the effort
to establish a condition of evacuation
and to safeguard Manchuria against a
recurrence of the troubles of 1900.
Striking evidence of the direct eff
feet in this country caused by unrest
in China was seen in 1900, when, I am
told, many cotton mills in the United
States were forced to shut down until
conditions in China were again nor
NAL. This fact and the evidence the
United States has already given of It's
desire to make peace is sufficient as
surance that the Washington govern
ment win lend its strong moral sup
port to calm excitement wherever II has
heen- aroused by the incorrect reports
Toe.lrfr