Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-30
RUSSIA AND
THE FAR EAST.
Count Cassini, Her Representa-
tive at Washington, Defines
Her Position.
HER DESIRE WAS FOR PEACE.
Proof Of This Is the Fact That She
Was Totally Unprepared to
Go to War.

New York, April 2s,-Count Casslnl'
the Russian ambassador, contributes 10
the forthcoming number Of the North
American Review an article In which,
under the caption Of Russia and the
Far East" he makes a statement OF his
governments position. After briefly
outlining the conditions which preceded
the outbreak Of hostIllties the ambassa-
dor says:
Russia has never ceased 70 wonder
why the idea that she was willing ana
anxious 10 make war with Japan be-
came so generally prevalent in the
United States. Prejudlced minds, or
those having nothing beyond super
fetal knowledge OF the governments
action preceding the unexpected attach
upon our fleet at Port Arthur, may aus,
pute the statement that Russia hoped
for peace, but | have no hesitation IN
demanded. II lies in the simple but I'M
making Il. II proof Of the assertion be
contradlcted answer, Russia was not
prepared.
For the personal representative OF
the Russian emperor to make an ad-
mission seemingly so Illuminating 70
national pride may appear strange ana
remarkable to the people OF the united
States, but II Is made with full appre-
citation Of Its importance and sgnlh-
canoe. | repeat that Russia was not
prepared for war because she had no
reason to expect war. In her faith that
the negotiations with japan were being
conducted by both parties with the
object Of reaching an amlcable ana
honorable adjustment Of their differ
ences, she was not conscious that the
outcome was to be other than peace
full"
Count Casslni denies that Russia was
actuated by designs to possess Man
churla or Korea by force OF arms, and
says:
HAD Russia desired war, or even
had she expected Il, no consideration
would have induced her TO eyacuate
Chinese territory and thus lose the OPP
portunity OF ending the war quickly"
Concerning the negotiations between
Russia and Japan, Count Casslni AYERS
that his government, I'm the effort to
bring the negotiations to a peaceful
conclusion did all that dignity would
permit and offered TO give assurances
again that the sovereignty OF the en-
plre OF China In Manchuria would be
recognized, Having made this marked
concession solely for the interest OF
peace, my government awaited the Jap
anese answer In the expectation that II
would at least be diplomatic in charac-
ter and would furnish the basis for the
furtherance OF the negotiations 10 a
satisfactory conclusion. Before the
Russian minister at Toxic could deliver
this reply, the japanese answer came,
not through the regular channels, but
as a torpedo attack at midnight And
now that war has come, Russia does
not doubt the issue"
REFUSAL OF MEDIATION,
London, April 30.--London papers
commenting on Russa's reputation OF
mediation, display the customary Rus
sophobic bias, and regard Russia's Of
nclal note as simply Intended for home
consumption, as none OF the powers
would be likely TO intervene unless pre-.
vlously assured that mediation would
be welcome. They also hint that Rus
sIa may have cause to regret that she
closed the door premSturely on the pos
sIbility Of friendly Intervention, and re-
gard the note as dispelling all hope Of
an early termination OF hostiliies. The
Telegraph says.
THE note breathes an nncompromls-
ing determination to fight while there
is a rouble In the treasury. but no other