The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-22
RUSSIA AGREES
T0 The SCHEME
War in the Orient Will be LO-
Called as Far as Possible.
INTERVIEW WITH CAssINI
MANY AMERICANS. OFFER TO
AID RUSSIA.

Washington, Feb Z1.--'Russia gladly
and willingly favored the suggestion Of
Secretary Hay that as far as possible
the belligerents in the far east war To-
calize hostIides and respect the neu-
tIality of China in the interest of a
Continuance of peaceful Intercourse Of
the rest Of the world Ny government
expressed the conviction that Mr.. Hays
suggestion was prompted by motives
of the highest humanity and was mu-
tually advantageous to the belliger-
ents."
This statement was made by Count
tassini, the Russian ambassador, in
the course Of d conversation with
representative Of the Associated Press
at the embassy tonight. The ambassa-
dor spoge in general on the far eastern
situation. Although the negotiations
on the neutrality proposition have been
carried on almost entirely between the
several foreign governments addressed
and the American ENJOYS accredited TO
them, the weight of the work of the
Russian ambassador at Washington in
The cOunsels of his majesty was strong
y influential in the shaping of Rus
sias reply.
Both Sides Frank.
As soon as the note was addressed to
the Russian government, Count Cas-
sini was advised Of the fact by Sacre-
tary Hay, and a long and earnest con-
EersatiOn followed on the motives Of
The Washington government in Initial
ing this move, unique in diplomacy. To
the frankness of his conversation, a
trankness made possible by the cordial
and intimate relations which Mr.. Hay
and Count Cassiui have enjoyed at
Washington, is largely due, il is said
the prompt response Of the Russian
government, which is materially con
ccrned with many matters of the
6ravest Importance and some demand
Ing the most speedy attention such as
war measures.
1t is Fortunate continued the am
bassador. that whatever may be the
feeling here and there in the United
states OF sympathy for Japan. the ira
ditional, and, so far as Russia is con
cerned, the highly priced, friendly re-
IatOns between the Washington and
St Petersburg governments in no way
have been inteTfered with. Every mail
brings TO the embassy some fifty to a
hundred contradictions, i'm the form Of
offers Of assistance. medical and mill
Idry, of the statement that Russia is
without friends in this country.
Fair Treatment.
81 1T is so in this country. as in every
other. that the smaller nation iii the
stTuEgleeEan count on a certain amount /
OF sympathy. arising solely from the
fact Of its minority. but il is a tribute
10 the fairness OF Your government
hat the official conduct OF your gov
eminent certainly has been all that
either belligerent could expect in the /
preservation or the strict neutrality !
which the president directed shall be !
observed by his people
SO numerous have these offers or /
medical and other aid become that /
have felt il my duty 20 bring them to 1
The attention of nay government. 1t is [
possible that in recognition of the /
kindly spirit of humanity and fTiendIi- /
ness which is evidenced by the Ameri- (
can physicians who have offered their I
assistance. that my government may
lind a way TO accept some OF them I
and that American physicians and 4
nurses may aid US in caring for the /
wounded in the far eastern war. /
am daily expecting an answer from St. |
Petersburg on this point
VIII Diminish Canards.
What viii be the effect OF the re- /
moval Of the censorship on al news /
from 81. Petersburg 10 the outside /
NOFld2' the ambassador was asked. /,
lie replied: 1T Is believed that this 4
Mil effectively diminish the number of !
canards which have been secretly sent !
from Russia. and especially 10 England /
aud the United States, about my couu- i
us. Censored dispatches were wrong
y considered abroad as having the APP /
pr0vdl OF the government Nothing 4
could have been further from the 4
truth. unless il was the additional false 4
impression that Ul;cenSOTed dispatches (
represented the facts as ehey were. /
With the censorship removed fl Is I
hoped that the outside world will have 4
d better idea of my government and /
my people. u was gratifying TO hear
from Il representative American several /
GAYS ago OF the approval in this coun-
JFy Of The policy, which had been
adhered to. OF making public the news 1
from the Tar east, whether good or
bad
Upprepared For War.
IN the earnest hope Jhat peace /
might be preserved with Japan. my
government was giving 1gare attention I
10 the methods by which a diplomatic /
settlement might be reached than 20 /
preparations for the recourse to arms.
which we are now convinced Japan had
determined on at the outset OF the ne
sotiatiOus. For this reason the frs
chapter in the far eastern way has not
been characterized by Russian vie
tories
The truth. however. has been made \
pubic as rapidly as Admiral Alexieh's 4
dispatches have been made known to /
his majesty. IL ihis first chapter.
however, is contained a picture which.
as Has tn be expected. the Americans (
were QUICK TO appreciate and applaud.
I refer TO the noble conduct - the
captain Of the Nariag, who, after re-
fusins TO surrender his ship. came out
of the harbor Of Chemulpo TO face an
overwhelming force OF japanese war
ships. 70 whose fire he replied as eff
1ectively as he could and then blew
up his own ship that she might not fall
into the hands Of the enemy The
contribution OF such a page 10 Russian
history more than c0ulpensates for any
losses sustained by our navy as d re-
suit of Japan's attacking US before a
declaration and while her envoy at ST.
Petersburg was still enjoying the cour-
tesy and protection OF the Russian
government.
Japan Wanted War.
The Associated Press dispatches
from st. Petersburg have correctly re-