Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-15
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Count Cassini's Communica-
tion to Secretary Hay.
MATTER IN CABINET
NEWSPAPER MEN MAY BE SHOT
AS SPIES.
First Paraguayan Minister Received
Ball Clubs and the Diamonds
on the Ellipse.
MATTER IN CABINET


will be treated as spies and shot
This notice was served on the State De-
part by Count Cassini, the Russian anu
bassador. this morning. and it was under
stood that similar &C ommunications were
made to all foreign offices. The text of
tie communication is as follows:
Il am charged by my government in or
der to avoid all possible misunderstand-
ing, to communicate to your excellency
that the lieutenant Of his imperial majesty
in the far east has just made the following
declaration:
"In case in which neutral steamers hav-
ing on board correspondents who might
&C mmunicate war news to. the enemy by
means of perfected apparatus not being yet
foreseen by existing conventions-would pc
arrested near the coast of kuantong or IN
the zone of operations of the Russian neet
the correspondents will be looked on as
spies and the steamers furnished with WIRE
less telegraphy seized as prizes Of war;"
This remarkable notice opens up an en-
tirely new line of treatment of correspond
ents. The reference to existing conventions
is taken to express the belief of the Rus
sian government that II wireless telegraphy
had been practiced prior to the Hague dec
laratton concerning implements ana prac-
tices of war 1t would surely have been pro-
hibited even in neutral hands. 1t happens
that some of the leading British neWSpa-
per correspondents are making free use OF
the wireless telegraph in the TRANSMISSION
Of their war news, and 1t is possible tnat
they will appeal to their government TO
define their own privileges and to secure an
official determination of the question as TO
whether a neutral on his own ship outside
the territorial waters of a bellgerent pow
or, and without contraband of war aboard,
can be treated as spy
When the cabinet met today secretary
Hay, it is stated submitted Count Cas1inis
communication and the matter was infor-
maIly discussed.
The Rosebud Agency.
The differences between the views of the
President and the members of Congress
from South Dakota as to the terms for the
opening of a portion of the Rosebud Indian
reservation to settlement will, it is now oe-
lieved, prevent the passage of the Dill peno-
ing in Congress providing for this. Ihe
bill passed the House and is now in the
Senate South Dakota congressman some
weeks ago ascertained that the President
regarded the price fixed for the sale OF the
lands as entirely too low, and they nave
had several talks with him in the hope
that he would agree to sign Dill or the
character that passed the House He mas
however remained firm in his convictions
and the matter stands In that shape. rep
resentatives Martin and Burke OF South
Dakota were at the White House today,
whether on the subject Of the Rosebud res
ervation was not stated They are or the
opinion that the bill for opening does not
stand a particularly good show of getting
through at this session, owing to the near
ness to adjournment. The opinion of near
ly every member Of Congress calling upon
the President is that Congress will adjourn
within two weeks, and possibly the last of
next sveek. Speaker Cannon, who was
with Ahe President today, thinks all the
signs good for soon getting away from
here. So does Senator Spooner, who was
in conference with the President for some
time.
Want an Alaska Judgeship.
Senators Foster and Ankeny of Washing
ton put in an application to the President
for judgeship for constituent. bill
has passed the House providing for an ad-
ditional judgeship for Alaska, and 1t Is in
anticipation of this bill getting through the
Senate that they have filed claim. The
chances are said to be against the bill pass
ing the Senate at this session.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana presented
some friends, and Senator Quarles of Wis.,
consin talked with the President few min
utes.
Paraguay's First Minister.
Don Cecilio Baez. envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to the United
States from Paraguay, was received by
President Roosevelt at the White House this
afternoon. The ceremony took place in the
blue room. Secretary of State Hay present
ed the new minister to the President and to
Secretary Loeb The excha nges between the
minister and the President were very cor
dial.
DR.. Baez has the distinction of being the
first minister of his country to be accredited
to the Washington government. AT the con-
clusion of the formalftcs the President and
Minister Baez had pleasant personal in
terview.
l. T. Burr of Boston, the double of An
drew Carnegie, was presented to the Pres-
dent by Senator Warren, who also intro
duced Col G. r. Shanton OF wyoming. Col.
Riders in the Spanish war, and did consta-
bulary duty in Cuba al the close OF the war.
Senator Warren would like to have him sent
to Panama IL important constaDuiafy work
is to be done there.
Church League to Be Accommod odated.
| Colonel Symons. the engineer officer in
charge of public buildings and grounds, said
today at the White House. where he was
inspecting some work being done, that
since the decision to open the White House
| grounds on the ellipse to local base ball
organizations his office has received applf-
cations from twenty-six clubs to be allowed
| to use the various diamonds. One of the
applications Is from the Church League,
which played throughout last season to
large crowds that were deeply interested.
Colonel Symons thinks 1t likely that the
application of the Church League Viii be
one Of those granted. inasmuch as 1t ID
probably the most extensive local organi-
cation of the kind in the city. A diamond
will be laid off and spacious grounds al
| lotted to the league. which had consider
able trouble last year-by reason of cramped
grounds. A backstop will also be erected.
Whether a grand stand will be permitted
| is not known. although Colonel Symons will
not put up such structure.
Colonel Symons has not yet made ar
rangements about taking up the work on
| the New York canal. which Congress has
! decreed he may do He said that he did
| not think the duties of the ONCE would
| interfere with his duties here. certainly not
| for some time.
| Colonel Symons was at Buffalo few
| days ago and called upon Col. Theodore
| Bingham. former superintendent of public
| buildings and grounds. Colonel Bingham
| is still in hospital suffering from the
broken leg sustained In an accident at
| Buffalo some time ago. He is doing well
| and hopes to be able to get out in three
or four weeks. His leg will be several
| inches shorter than II was before the ae-
cfdent, but 1t Is hoped to prevent stiff
knee.