The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-04
COUNT CASSINl
MUCH WORRIED
Held Conference With Secretary
Hay-.-W.s No Talk Of
War Feeling.
NEWSPAPERS THE CAUSE

russians are Becoming More and More
U%nfriendiy to the United States
and Popular Sentiment is
Very Antasonistie.
Washington, March 3.-An important
conference lasting more than an hour
occurred between Secretary Hay and
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador.
The growing ill feeling IN Russia
against Americans and the continued
attacks of certain parts of the Ameri-
can press against Russia was she main
subject discussed.
Count Cassint also informally in
CURED about the report hat the Com
mercial Cable company had applied for
landing privileges at Guam for a cable
from that island to Japan. He was as
sured by Mr.. Hay that this government
at present was considering no such ap-
plication. The ambassador did not give
any intimation as to what the attitude
Of his government would be in his
matter. The Associated Press dis
patches from st. Petersburg, however,
have stated that the Russian govern
ment would view askance he grant
ing of such privileges by this govern
ment during the present war. 1t is as
sumed that this government has de-
clined for the present formally to con-
slider such an application.
To a correspondent of the Associated
Press Count Cassini said that he Rus
sian people long since had learned to
regard the people of this country as
their fast friends, and that it had been
a bitter disappointment to them to find
American newspapers attacking the
Russian government, the Russian peo-
pie and the Russian policies. He said
the first feeling of his people had been
one OF painful surprise, but that this
Is now crystalizing into a deplorable
feeling of unfriendliness.
Tone of Press Very UnfriendIy.
THE tone of Russian newspapers"
said the ambassador. "as a conse-
newspapers is beginning to take a very
painful direction in their references to
the United States, and in my opinion 1t
IS III the Interest Of both countries that
some measures shall be taken to check
This before 1t is too late.
Fortunately the relations Of the two
governments continue, as always, abb
solutely friendly, and for this reason /
am hopeful that the present unfriend-
liness on the part of the press Of the
two countries will not be lasting. The
triendliness of the American and Rus
sian governments, 1t is my firm belief,
furnishes h basis for the restoration
hllo y . u lllS lIdOlllOlIdk
friendship of their two peoples, and I
hope some means may be found for the
latter to reach a better understanding.
Il am convinced of this because q
careful analysis of the criticism ex-
pressed in this country fails to show
any real ground for the bad feeling
which evidently prompts them. Ny
these attacks upon them. and have
asked in all seriousness the reason for
them. For example. one reason which
has been advanced is that this country
Is ~displeased that Russia was unable
to e%vacuate Manchuria last October.
Trouble Began Early.
1T was the earnest hope Of my gov
withdraw Its troops from Manchuria
at that time. The necessity of safe
guarding u peculiar and predomi-
nant position there, a position which
, has been recognized by all the pow
ers, made 1t impossible for the evacu-
alton to take place with safety. The
Russian people, knowing, furthermore,
that the avowed, prime and sole in
%terest 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 ~safeguarded, whatever
emergency may arise, are unable to
explain the continued attacks of GER
tain American newspapers against
Russia because she has been UNI
able with safety to effect an evacua-
ton.
Feeling of Disappointment.
ut is a tradition in Russia to feel
friendly to America. and 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
Il AVE been repeatedly assured by
the officials here that it is the earnest
wish of this government tina the old
traditional friendship between Rus
STA and the United States in the in
%terest of the two peoples should not
be disturbed. I have the best assur-
ances that this government will b
serve complete neutrality in the far
eastern war. Indeed, its attitude has,
In this respect, been all thai either
b~elligerent could desire, and Russia
has no doubt that it will continue alb
so1utely correct.
Russia does not expect, now that war
e on, that this country shall be anything
pore than neutral. My country does not
isk that you should be pro-Russ.an and
DOT p~ro-Japanese, but that you should be
lro-American. She expects, and I can
but hope, hat she will receive fair treat
tnent at the hands of the American press
r7as you say, in this country-a fair show
Ing. One of the reasons for the present
Unfortunate situation is the large num-
er of absolutely false reports which have
Ieen sent to Russia from the United
plates about matters affecting the far
Eastern situation. These reports have
contributed much in arousing sentiment
tgatnst the United States. True, they
have been corrected, but a correction
never reaches as many people as does the
original report.
II have spoken with you frankly, in the
aope that something might be accom-
olished towards clearing the situation"
Earthquake in San Francisco.
I San Francisco. March IA ,nodo,