The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-22
'ClASSINrS
 CAMPAIGN Ambassador Throws BO- QuetS at America. OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE Says Many are Anxious to Aid
 the Russians. Ambassador Declares That His Gov ernment Has Frankly and Gladly Accepted Secretary
 Hays Neutrality Scheme.

anu WAiah8hy AayVACu tAS buS8CDtkOAA VI Secretary Hay that as far as possible the belligerents In the far eastern war local ize hostilities and respect the neutrality of China in the interest of A continuance of peaceful intercourse of the rest of the world. My government expressed the conviction that Mir. Hays suggestion was prompted by motives of the highest humanity and was mutually advantage ous to the beliigerents.'
 This statement was made by Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassador in the course of conversation with repre- sentative of the Associated Press at the Embassy tonight. The Ambassador spoke in general on the Far Eastern
 Although the negotiations on the neutrality proposition have been carried on almost entirely between the several foreign governments addressed and the American envoys accredited to them, the weight of the work of the Russian Ann bassador at Washington in the counsels of his majesty was strongly influential in the shaping Of Russia's reply.
 Hay and Cassini Confer.
 As soon as the note was addressed to the Russian Government, Count Cassini was advised of the fact by Secretary Hay, and a long and earnest conversa- ttion followed on the motives of the Washington Government In creating this move unique In diplomacy. To the frankness of this conversation, frank ness made possible by the cordial and in- innate relations which Mir. Hay and Count Cassinl have enjoyed at Washing ton is largely due. it is said, the prompt response of the Russian Government. which is naturally concerned with many matters of the gravest importance and some demanding the most speedy atten- tion. such as war measures.
 ''It IS fortunate." said the Ambassador tonight,'s that whatever may be the feel. ing here and there in the United States oi sympathy for Japan, the traditional and so far aa Russia is concerned. the highly pffxed ffishdly relations between khs Washington and St. Petersburg Govern, ments in no way have been interfere6 with. Every mail brings to the embassy fifty to enc hundred contributions, in the form of offeors of assistance, medical and military, or the statement that Russia is not without friends in this country. It is so in this country as in every other that the smaller nation in the struggle can count on a certain amount of sympathy arising solely from the fact of it's minor. ity but 1t Is tribute to the fairness oi your Government that it's oifieIai conduct certainly has been all that either belllg. erent could expect in the preservation oi the strict neutrality which the President directed shall be observed by his people
 Offers of Aid.
 "So numerous have these offers of medi. cal and other aid become. that have fell 1t my duty to bring them to the attention of my Government. It Is possible that fl recognition of the kindly spirit of human. ity and friendliness which is evidenced by the American physicians offering theil assistance. that my Government may find a way to accept some of them, and that American physicians and 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.'
 What will be the effect of the removal of the censorship on all news from St. Petersburg to the outside world?' the Ambassador was asked.
 He replied: Tt is believed that this will effectively diminish the number of can ards which have been secretly sent from Russia, especially to England and the United States, about my country. Cen sored dispatches were wrongly considered abroad as having the approval of the government. Nothing could have been further from the truth unless it was the additional false Impression that uncen- sored dispatches represented the facts as they were. With the censorship removed. 1t is hoped that the outside world may have better idea Of my government and my people. It was gratifying to hear from representative American several days 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.
 Russia Hoped Ger Peace.
 'In the earnest hope that peace might be preserved with Japan, my government was giving more attention to the meth ods by which a diplomatic settlement might be reached than to preparations for the recourse to arms which we are now convinced Japan had determined on at the outset of the negotiations. For this reason, the first chapter in the Far East war has not been characterized by Russian victories.
 public as rapidly as Admiral Alexieifs s despatches have been reported to his majesty. In this first chapter. however, Is contained a picture. which, as was to be expected. the fair spirit of Americans was quick to appreciate and applaud. refer to the noble effort of the captain of Variag. who, after refusing to surren- der his ship, came out of the harbor of Chemulpo to face an overwhelming forco of Japanses warships to whose fire he replied as effectively as he could. and then blew up his own ship that she might not fall into the hands of the enemy.
 Glorious Page in History.
 The contribution of such page to Rus sian history more than compensates for any losses sustained by our navy as a result of Japan attacking us before a de- claration of war and while her envoy at St. Petersburg was still enjoying ths courtesy and protection of the Russian government.
 "The Associated Press dispatches from St. Petersburg have correctly reported the tidal wave of national feeling and entnu- siasm which fas swept over my country. No longer is the struggle in the Far East a political one, interesting for the most mart, to diplomats and statesmen. It has Aared up into national war My au- gust master has shown extraordinary pa- tience in endeavoring to arrive at a set tlement without war. But now that Ja- pan has made war the determination of