The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-19

| L.
Bar Harbor Ne. Aug. IS.-"As the sit
uation presents itself to-day. without any
further steps by the nations OF Europe
and by the United States. the gran
| scheme OF the American Secretary o:
| State. Mr.. Hay, to insure the neutrality
| Of China. has gone TO wreck. and the en-
| tire Chinese question, fraught with dan
| ger To all nations that have an interest
| in that country. once more lies open to
| all cventualitice.''
| Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassador.
used this vigorous and significant Ian
guase to-day in an interview with a cor
| respondent Of The Republic in discussing
III" grave aspects OF the Chefoo incident
| and its bearing on the whole world.
Count Cassini transferred the Russian
| Embassy to Ear Harbor carly in the
! summer. on account of his health. which
| had broken down.
| DO you regard the Chetoo incident as
| closed by the excuses which japan has
| gIven?"
NO excuses that Japan can give can
alter the occurrence, and. instead Of being
closed, / regard IL a. only open
DO you regard the incident as se7ious%'
Il regard IL a. far more serious. in an
international sense than any question
that has been before the world since the
Boxer troubles
And why do You regard it in such a
serious light
WHERE DANGER LIES
Because i. is in fair way to terminate
suddenly and finally the international
agreement for the maintenance OF the
neutrality of China. That would be a
calamity. because Of the dangers with
which it would threaten not only China
but every nation that is Interested in
China
viii you outline briefly the history Of
matters in the far East. 50 far as they
relate to this question OF Chinese n.u-
trality. which is offered by the Chefoo
incident?'
'At the outbreak OF hostilitics between
my country and Japan the suggestion was
made by the United States that all ma
tions interested in III" Chinese question
suggest to the belligerents the desirability
OF. so far as practicable limiting the zone
of ho.tihtieS. and that they all subscribe
20 the principle of the naturalization Of
China. with view to the maintenance OF
the territorial integrity Of China. All the
other nations signatOry 10 the Pekin peace
protocol made this suggestion to Russia
and Japan and nay Government aSsented
to ii and also to the principle Of the
neutrality of China. Japan assented also.
Russia entered INTO tIiiS tEIt'iiitIiI
crlalv. believing ii to be for the interest
OF the whole world.
Now. what has happened? Before war
had been declared a large japanese squad
ron appeared of Chemulpo and found two
Russian ships in the harbor. Notice was
served on them TO come out and be de-
Stroyed Or the japanese would lombard
them in the harbor of Chemulpo The
commanders of foreign ships entered
protest against such violation of neu-
trality. and in the end. rather than have
the town of Chemuipo bomSardcd, the
Russian senior commander took his ships
out made a spirited fight ard sunk his
own ships.
JApAN'S POLICY.
II speal, OF this merely to call attention
to the disregard of international law and
neutrality which was exhibited by Japan
at the outbreak OF The war. Japan has
gone into the agreement intending to Elo-
late neutrality wherever 1t suited her piir-
poses This brings lis down TO Chefoo.'
What is your understanding Of what oc-
Cured at Crsfoo?
.My understanding is derived from the
press reports. just. as | assume yours Is