The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-02
CASSINI WOULD REMOVE
AMERICAN ANTIPATHY
Russian Ambassador Holds Conference With Secretary
lay and Protests Against the Attacks OF the Amer
can Press Upon His Country-Expresses Hope lhat
Friction May Disappear Before 1t Is Too Late.

am hopeful that the present unfriend-
illness on the part of the press of the
two countries will not be lasting. am
sure that when these attacks, which
so far as Russia can see are without
cause, end, the relations of Russia and
the United States will no longer be
clouded. My people naturally cannot
understand these attacks upon them
and have asked in all seriousness the
reason for them.
For examples one reason which has
been advanced is that this country IS
displeased that Russia was unable to
evacuate Manchuria last October. Ii
was the earnest hope of my govern
ment that it would be possible to with
draw it's troops from Manchuria at
that time The necessity of safeguard
ing our peculiar and predominant po-
sition there, a position which has been
recognized by all the powers, made it
impossible for the evacuation to take
place with safety. The Russian people.
knowing the situation in Manchuria,
knowing, Furthermore, that the avoWed,
prime and sole interest of the United
States in that province is commercial,
and that the government of Russia
has given to all the powers, including
the United States, the most positive
assurances that their commercial
rights will be protected and safeguard
ed. whatever emergency may arise, are
unable to explain the continued at
tacks of certain American newspapers
against Russia because she has been
unable with safety to effect an evac-
uation.
Russia's Friendship Traditional.
"It is a tradition in Russia to feel
friendly toward America. 1t is but
natural that a feeling of disappoint
ment has swept over Russia when
American newspapers have arrived
there attacking the government and
the people in a bitter manner. / have
been repeatedly assured by the Off
cials here that it is the earnest wish
of this government that the old tradi-
tional friendship between Russia and
the United States in the interest of the
two peoples should not be disturbed.
have the best assurances that this
government will observe complete
neutrality in the far Eastern war. IN
deed it's attitude has, in this respect,
been all that either bellfgerent could
desire and Russia has no doubt that
it will continue absolutely correct.
Russia does not expect, now that
war is on, that this country shall be
anything more than, neutral My
country does not ask that you should
be pro-Russian and not pro-Japanese,
but that you should be pro-American.
She expects, and I can but hope that
she will receive fair treatment at the
hands of the American press. One of
the reasons for the present unfortu-
nate situation is the large number of
absolutely false reports which have
been sent to Russia from the United
States about matters affecting the far
Eastern situation. These reports have
contributed much in arousing senti-
ment against the United States. True,
they have been corrected, but cor
rection never reaches as many people
as does the original report. have
spoken frankly in the hope that some
thing might be accomplished toward
clearing the situation"