Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-20
COUNT CASSINI ON
 CHEFU INCIDENT
World Menaced, He Says, by
 Seizure of the Ryeshitelni.
JAPAN WREOKs HAYS PEAOE PLAN

JAPAN WREUKS HAYS PEAOE PLAN Destroying China's Neutrality Pre-
 sents a Question, Says Russian Am-
 bassador, Momentous as Boxer
 Crfsis-He Adds That Russia VIII
 End the War on Her Own Terms.
 Count Cassini, the Russian ambas- sador, recently used the following viz orous and significant language in an in terview at Bar Harbor with a cor respondent of the New York Herald, in discussing the grave aspects of the Chefu incident and its bearing on the whole world, when he said:
 "As the situation presents itself to day, without any further steps by the nations of Europe and by the United States, the grand scheme of the Amer ican secretary of state, MT. Hay, tc insure the neutrality of China has gone to wreck, and the entire Chinese ques tion, fraught with danger to all na- tions that have an interest in that country, once more lies open to all eyentualities.
 Do you regard the Chefu 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 it as only open"
 Do you regard the incident as seri- ous?''
 T regard it as far more serious, in an international sense, than any ques- ton which has been before the world since the adjustment of the Boxer troubles"
 And why do you regard it in such a serious light?"
 Because it is in a fair way to ter minate suddenly and finally the inter- national agreement for the mainte- nance 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"
 will you outline briefly the history of matters in the far east, so far as they relate to this question of Chinese neutrality, which is affected by the Chefu incident?"
 < AL L1LC OuLDICdh O1 AOS llllIICS UO- tween my country and Japan the sug gestion was made by the United States that all nations interested in the Chi nese question suggest to the belliger- ents the desira bility, so far as prac-- ticable, of limiting the zone of hostili- ties, and that they all subscribe to the principle of the naturalization of China with a view to the maintenance of it's territorial integrity. All the other na- tions signatory to the Pek1n peace pro- tocal made this suggestion to Russia and Japan, and my government assent ed to 1t and also to the principle of the neutrality5of China. Japan assent ed also. Russia entered into this agree ment solemnly, believing4t to be in the interest of the whole<world.
 Now, what has happened? Before war had been declared q large Japa- nese squadron appeared off Chemulpo and found two Russian ships in the harbor Notice was served on them to come out and be destroyed or the Japanese would lombard them in the harbor of Chemulpo. The commanders of foreign ships entered protest against such violation of neutrality and in the end, rather than have the town of Chemulpo bombarded, the Russian senior commander took his ships out, made a spirited fight and sunk his own vessels.
 II will speak of this merely to call attention to the disregard of interna- tional law and neutrality which was exhibited by Japan at the outbreak of the war. Japan went into the agree ment intending to violate neutrality wherever it suited her purposes. This brings us down to Chefu."
 What Is your understanding of what occurred at Chefu?
 My understanding is derived from the press reports, just as presume yours is. There is no question as to the brutal and essential facts. The com mander of a Russian torpedo boat de stroyer went to Chefu after a sortie from Port Arthur He declared to the Chinese authorities that he would re- main in that neutral port absolutely under conditions prescribed by the law of nations.
 "He unscrewed the guns and re- moved them and the other weapons and the ammunition. These he deliv- cred to the Chinese authorities, and the ship was in the situation that she should have occupied in neutral port and was entitled to the protection of the neutral power, which had gunboats and cruisers in the harbor.
 That night came two Japanese men, of-war. The Japanese commander dis covered the Russian ship in exactly the state have described. He attack ed our ship, boarded her and attempt ed to run up the Japanese colors. The Russians, recognizing this as an un- lawful act, defended the ship with their( hands. In the hand to hand struggle which ensued the. Japanese commander was thrown overheard, but superior numbers prevailed, and the Y -.gm A. A-H-