The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-16
More Cassini Assurances.

Ine aDSufu count CaSSlnl, VINO rep
resents the czar's government at
Washington, visited Secretary Hay yes
terday and pretended that he had
heard that the United States Intended
to change it's policy and had a program
OF political intervention in Manchuria
with territorial ambitions.
Secretary Hay need only to point
Cassini to the correspondence of our
government on the Chinese situa ton,
beginning with the circular note issued
from our department Of state on July
8, 1900 to the powers then cO-operat-
ing in China, among whom was Rus
STA, declaring the policy Of the United
States to be the seeking of a solution
which may bring about permanent
peace and safety in China, preserve
Chinese territorial and administrative
entity, protect all rights guaranteed to
friendly powers by treaty and interna-
tional law, and safeguard for the
world the principle of equal and i'm
partial trade with all parts of the Chi
nese empire. This initial declaration
of the policy Of our government has
been sedulously adhered to since.
Shortly after the declaration of July
8, 1900, or. on Aug. 20, 1900, the Rus
sian government made the positive
declaration that Russia had no de-
sign Of territorial acquisition in China
and that the occupation of New
chwang was merely for military pur-
poses, incidental to the security of the
Russian border provinces, and, as soon
as order should be established in Man.
churia, Russia would withdraw her
troops from Manchuria unless some Of
the other powers interposed obstacles.
This declaration of Russia's virtuous
intentions has been repeated frequent
ly since, Russia, meantime, making
good her hold on Manchuria, which
has been now converted practically
into a Russian province under Vice
roy Alexieff.
In 1902, Russia, having bullied
China into signing away to Russia
K exclusive rights in mining, railway
building, ETC., our state department
protested to the Picking government
against it's acts under Russian COM
+ puIsion, as a breach of the treaty
stipulations concluded between China
and foreign powers, and impairing
Chtna's sovereign rights and serious
ly interfering with her ability to full
fill her international obligations.
Last April, Russia declared that no
new treaty ports should be opened in
Manchuria and no new foreign con-
sulates would be tolerated. Our gov
eminent, Great Britain and Japan
made such vigorous protest against
this assumption of sovereignty over
Manchuria, that Russia withdrew that
policy and lately, when on the point
of fighting Japan to make good her
hold upon the territory which she
has stolen from China, she again
makes very positive declarations that
she will respect the rights Of the pow
ers who have negotiated treaties of
commerce with China.
Count Cassini knows as well as Sec
rotary Hay that our government has
never deviated a hairs breadth from
the distinctly declared policy an
nounced on July 8, 1900, and reiter-
ated with appropriate emphasis since.
Now that American consular officers
will be appointed in due time at the
new treaty ports of Mukden and An
tung, in Manchuria, our government
4, is prepared to back UP our treaty
rights with the vigor they merit, as