The San Francisco call., 1904-02-22

| This note merely states what had
| been accomplished by his previous COM
munications initiating the international
effort for the preservation Of China's s
neutrality 1t sets forth the extent to
which Russia and Japan have agreed
to limit the field of war. This. as pre-
viously stated, makes the battle-ground
Manchuria, Korea and the Russian and
japanese empires.
Hay does not suggest any secondary
step. He is content with the adherence
of the powers to the principle of Chi
nese neutrality. There will be issued
| at the State Department, probably to-
morrow, the memorandum setting forth
the Russian and Japanes answers to
Hays first note.
STATEMENT BY CASSINI.
Russia gladly and willingly favored
the suggestion of Secretary Hay that,
as far as possible, the belligerents in
| the Far East war localize hostilities
and respect the neutrality of China in
the interest of continuance of peace
full intercourse with the rest of the
world. Ny Government expressed the
conviction that Mr.. Hays suggestion
was prompted by motives of the high
est humanity and was mutually advan-
/ tageous to the belligerents-"
This statement was made by Count
| Cassini the Russian ambassador, in
the course of conversation at the en-
bassy tonight. The ambassador spoke
| in general on the Far Eastern situa-
/ ton. Although the negotiations on the
neutrality proposition have been car
ried on almost entirely between the
several foreign Governments addressed
/ and the American ENJOYS accredited
to them, the weight of the work of the
| Russian ambassador in Washington in
| the councils of the Gar was strongly
| influential in the shaping of Russia 5
reply.
! AS soon as the note was addressed
| to the Russian Government Count Cas-
sini was advised of the fact by Secre-
tary Hay, and a long and earnest con-
| versation followed on the motives of
| the Washington Government in initiat-
| ing this move, unique in diplomacy. To
the frankness Of this Conversations
| frankness made possible by the cordial
and intimate relations which Mr.. Hay
/ and Count Cassini have enjoyed in
| Washington-is largely due, it is said,
| to the prompt response of the Russian
| Government, which is materially con-
| cerned with many matters of the grav-
est Importance, and some demanding
! the most speedy attention such as war
measures.
NATIONS STILL FRIENDLY.
1T is fortunate" continued the En-
| bassador, that, whatever may be the
| feeling here and there in the United
| States of sympathy for Japan, the ira
| ditional-and, so far as Russia is con-
cerned, the highly prized-friendly re-
lations between the Washington and
| st. Petersburg Governments in no way
have been interfered with. Every mail
brings to the embassy some fifty to 100
contradictions, in the form of offers of
assistance, medical and military, of the
statement that Russi- is without
| friends in this country.
1T is so in this country as in every
other, that the smaller nation in the
struggle can count on certain amount
of sympathy. arising solely from the
fact of it's minority; but it is a tribute
that the official conduct of your Gov
ernment certainly has been all that
either belligerent could expect in the
preservation of the strict neutrality
which the President directed shall be
observed by his people.
$50 numerous have these offers of
medical and other aid become that 1
have felt it my duty to bring them to
the attention of my Government. 1t
is possible that, in recognition of the
kindly spirit of humanity and friend
liness which is evidenced by the Amer
/ lean physicians who have offered their
assistance, my Government may find
a way to accept some of them, and
that American physicians and nurses
may aid us in caring for the wounded
in the Far Eastern war. 1 am daily
expecting an answer from St. Peters,
| burg on this point"
WILL NOT SUPPRESS NEWS.
What will be the effect of the re-
movaI of the censorship on all news
from st. Petersburg to the outside
world?" the ambassador was asked.
1T is believed that this will effect
ually diminish the number of canards
/ WHICH nave DSeH secretly sent from
Russia, especially to England and the
United States, about my country. Cen
sored dispatches were wrongly consid-
cred abroad as having the approval of
the Government. Nothing could have
been further from the truth, unless it
was the additional false impression
that uncensored dispatches represented
the facts as they were With the CEN
sorship removed it is hoped that the
outside world will have a better idea
of my Government and my people. II
was gratifying to hear from a repre-
sentative American several days ago
of the approval in this country of the
policy which had been strictly adhered
to, OF making public the news from the
Far East, whether good or bad.
I'm the earnest hope that peac,
might be preserved with Japan. my
government was giving more attention
to the methods by which a diplomati,
settlement might be reached than n
| DrqnarqfiO0g for he raoo,,~--