Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-22
APPROVED BY RUSSIA
SECRETARY HAYS PROPOSITION
TO LIMIT AREA OF POSSIBILITIES.
Count Cassini Says That Not All the
Sympathy in This Country is
for Japan.

-. -
The Russian ambassador, Count Cassini
discussed at some length the situation in
| the far. east with "a representative of the
Associated Press at the Russian embassy
| last night. He remarked:
Russia gladly and willingly favored the
suggestion of Secretary Hay that, as far as
possible. the belligerents in the far eastern
war localize hostilities and respect the neu-
I trality of China in the interest OF a con-
| tinuance of the peaceful intercourse of the
| rest of the world. My government ex-
| pressed the conviction that Mr. Hays sug-
gestion was prompted by motives of the
highest humanity and was mutually ad-
| vantageous to the billigerants."
| Although the negotiations on the neutral
ity propositions have been carried on almost
entirely between the several foreign gov
ernments addressed and the American en-
voys accredited to them. the weight of the
word of the Russian ambassador at WASH
ington in the councils of his majesty was
strongly influential in the shaping of Rus
Sia'S reply.
AS soon as the note was addressed to the
Russian government. Count Cassini was adj
vised of the fact by Secretary Hay. and a
long and earnest conversation followed on
the motives of the Washington government
in initiating this move unique In diplomacy.
To the frankness Of this conversation, a
frankness made possible by the cordial and
Count Cassini have enjoyed, is largely due
it is said. the prompt response of the Rus
sian government. which is now naturally
concerned with many matters of the gray
est importance and some demanding the
most speedy attention. such as war meas
ures.
Russia's Friendship.
sit is Fortunate continued his excel
lency. that whatever may be the feeling
here and there in the United States of
sympathy for Japan, the traditional and,
SO far as Russia is concerned. the highly
priced friendly relations between the Wash
ington and Petersburg governments in no
way have been interfered with. Every mail
brings to the embassy from fifty to one
hundred contradictions in the form of Of
fers of assistance. medical and military of
the statement that Russia 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 a GER
tain amount of sympathy arising solely
from the fact of it's minority but ii Is a
tribute to the fairness of your government
that the official conduct of your govern
ment certainly has been all that either bel
ligerent could expect in the preservation
of the strict neutrality which the President
directed shall be observed by his people. So
numerous have these offers of medical and
other aid become that | have felt 1t my
duty to bring them to the attention Of
my government 1t is possible that in rec
o6iiitfOu VI the spirit or humanity
and friendliness Which Is evidenced by the
American physicians Offering their assist
ance, that my government may find a way
10 accept some of them and that American
physicians and nurses may aid us in caring
for the wounded In the far eastern war.
L am daily expecting an answer from Pet
ersburg on this point.
Uncensored News.
What will be the effect of the removal
of the censorship sen all news from ST.
petersburg to the outside world?" the am
bassador was asked. He replied: ut is
believed that this will effectively diminish
the number of caEards which have been
secretly sent from Russia, especially in
England and the United States about my
country. Censored dispatches were wrong
~ considered abroad having the ap-
prevail of the government Nothing could
have been further from the truth, unless
| IT was the additioatai false impression that
as they were. With the censorship removed
it is hoped that the outside world may
have q better idea ofHmy government and
my people. II was gratifying to hear from
ago of the approval in this country of the
policy which has been strictly adhered to
OF making public the news from the far
east, whether good or bad.
In the earnest hope that peace might be
preserved with Japan, my government was
giving more attention to the methods by
which diplomatic settlement might be
reached than to preparations for the re-
course to arms which are now con-
WINGED Japan had determined on at the out
set OF the negotiations. For this reason
the first chapter in the far eastern war
mas not been characterized by Russian vic
| tories. The truth. however, has been made
public as rapidly Admiral Aexieff's dis
patches have been reported to his majesty
In this first chapter however, is contained
a picture which, as was to be expected the
falr spirit of Americans was quick to ap-
preciate and applaud. 1 refer to the noble
| conduct or the captain of the Variag, who
after refusing to surrender his ship came
out of the harbor of Chemulpo to face an
overwhelming force of Japanese warships.
TO whose fire he replied as effectively as
ne could, and then blew up his own ship
mat she might not fall into the hands of
the enemy. The contribution of such
page to Russian history more than com
penSateS Tor any losses sustained by our
navy as Il result of Japan attacking lis be-
Iore a declaration of war and while her
envoy at st. Petersburg was still ENJOYING
| the courtesy and protection of the Russian
government
Enthusiasm in Russia.
The Associated Press dispatches from
ST Petersburg have correctly reported the
tldal wave of national feeling and enthusi-
asm which has swept over my country No
longer is the struggle in the far east a
political one, interesting for the most part
diplomats and statesmen 1t has fiared up
| INTO national war. The august master
mas SHOWN extraordinary patience in en-
oeaVorlng to arrive at settlement without
war But now that Japan has made war
the determination of the Russian emperor
ana his people that she shall be satiated
with that for what she has seemed so anxi-
Gus Is made all the more strong by the
patience and forbearance which have
hitherto characterized our dealings with
the Japanese Su.45 e.
In the interests of the worlds humanity
am confident all nations will hope for the
success of Secretary HAYS effort to limit