The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-08-23
COUNT CASSIkI ON
CHEFU INCIDENT
World Menaced, He Says, by
Seizure of the Ryeshitelni.
JAPAN WRECKS HAYS PEACE PLAN

Destroying Chinn's Neutrality Pre-
SCENTS a Question, says Russian AM
bassador, a. Momentous as Boxer
CrIsis-He Adds That Russia VIII
End the war on Her own Terms.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambas-
sador, recently used the following Wig
orous and significant language in an in
terview at Bar Harbor with cor
respondent Of the New York Herald,
in discussing the grave aspects OF the
Chefu incident and its bearing on the
whole world, when he said:
"As the situation presents itself to-
day, without any further steps by the
nations Of Europe and By the United
States, the grand scheme of the Amer
lean secretary of state. Mr. Hay, TO
insure the neutrality Of China has gone
to wreck. and the entire Chinese ques-
ton, fraught with danger to all ma
lions that have an interest in that
country, once more lies open to all
eventuaIities
do you regard the Chefu incident
as closed by the excuses which Japan
has giyeny
fNo excuses that Japan can give can
alter the occurrence, and, instead of
being closed, regard it as only open"
"Do you regard the incident as seri-
ous?n
Il regard it as far more serious, in
an international sense, than any ques-
ton which has been before the world
since the adjustment of the Boxer
troubles"
And why do you regard it in such
a serious light?"
Because 1t Is in a fair way to ter
inmate suddenly and finally the inter
national agreement for the mainte-
nance OF the neutrality of China That
would be q calamity, because of the
dangers with which 1t would threaten
not only China, but every nation that
is interested In China
"Will you outline briefly the history
OF matters in the far east. so far as
they relate to this question Of Chinese
neutrality. which Is affected by the
Chefu lncidentY'
"At the outbreak OF hostilities be-
tween my country and Japan the sug-
gestion was made by the United States
that all nations Interested in the Chi
nese question suggest TO the belliger-
ents the desirability so far as prae-
ticable, OF limiting the zone of hostili-
ties. and that they all subscribe to the
principle Of the naturalization of China
with d view to the maintenance Of its
territorial integrity All the other ma
tons slgnatory TO the Pekin peace pro
focal masse this suggestion to Russia
and Japan, ana my government assent
ed 10 ii ana also to the principle Of
the neutrality OF China Japan assent
ed also. Russia entered into this agree
ment solemnly. believing it to be IN the
interest OF the whole world
Now, what has happened? Before
war had been declared large Japa-
nese squadron appeared off Chemulpo
and found two Russian ships in the
harbor. Notice was served on them
TO come out and be destroyed or the
Japanese would lombard them in the
harbor Of Chemuh,o. The commanders
Of foreign ships entered protest
against such violation Of neutrality,
and iii the end rather than have the
town of Chemulpo bomharded. the
Russian senior commander took his
ships out, made a spirited fight and
sunk his own vessels.
II will speak Of this merely to call
attention to the disregard of interna-
tional law and neutrality which was
exhibited By japan at the outbreak Of
the war. Japan went into the agree
ment intending to violate neutrality
wherever 1t suited her purposes This
brings US down to Chefu.n
what is your understanding of what
occurred at Chefu7"
MY understanding Is derived from
the press reports, just as ! presume
yours is. There is no question as to the
brutal and essential facts. The com
mander OF a Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyer went to Chefu after sortie
from Port Arthur. He declared to the
Chinese authorities that lie would re-
main in that neutral port absolutely
under conditions prescribed by the law
Of nations.
"He unscfewed the guns and re-
moved them and the other weapons
ana the ammunition. These he deiiy-
cred to the Chinese authorities. and the
ship was in the situation that she
should have occupied In a neutral port
and was entitled to the protection Of
the neutral power, which had gunboats
ana cruisers in the harbor
"That night came two Japanese mem
of-war. The japanese commander dis
covered the Russian ship in exactly
the state / have described. He attack
ed our ship, boarded her and attempt
ed to run up the Japanese colors. The
Russians, recognizing this as an un-
lawful act defended the ship with
their hands In the hand to hand
struggle which ensued the japanese
commander was thrown overheard, but
superior numbers prevailed, AMI the
Russian ship was taken out Of this
neutral port as a prize The Chinese
were In duty bound not to have per-
mitted the japanese to enter the har-
Dor. They We're bound not to have per-
4