The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-22
CASSINI SAYS CHINA
TO BE HELD NEUTRAL
Russian Ambassador Makes
Statement in Which He Ex.
presses Many Hopes.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 21.-
Russia gladly and apparently willing
ly adopted the suggestion of Secretary
Hay that, as far as possible, the bel
ligerents in the far Eastern war localize
hostilities and respect the neutrality of
China in the interest of continuance
of peaceful intercourse with the rest
of the world. My government ex
pressed the conviction that MIR. 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
Cassfni, the Russian ambassador, in
the course of a conversation with
representative of the Associated Press
at the embassy tonight The ambas-
sador spoke in general of the far East
ern situation. Although the negotia-
tions on the neutrality proposition have
been carried on between the several
governments addressed and the Amer
lean ambassadors accredited to them
the weight of the work Of the Russian
ambassador at Washington in the
councils of his majesty was strongly
influential in the shaping Of Russia's
reply.
Says Americans Are Friendly.
1T is Fortunate continued the am
sbassador, 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-
lations between the Washington and
st. Petersburg governments in no way
have been interfered with. Every mail
brings to the embassy some fifty to
one hundred contradictions In form of
offers of assistance, medical and mill
tary, of the statement that Russia Is
without friends in this country. 1t is
the same in this country, as in every
other country, that the smaller nation
in the struggle can count on certain
amount of sympathy, arising solely
from the fact of it's minority, but 1t
is tribute to the fairness of your
government that the official conduct of
your government certainly has been
all that either belligerent could expect
after the strict declaration that neu-
trality should be observed by your peo-
pie. So numerous have these offers
become that l have felt it my duty to
bring them to the attention of my gov
milton of the kindly spirit of humanity
and friendliness was evidenced by the
American physicians offering their as
Sistance that my government may find
way to accept some of them 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"
Will Stop Canards.
What will be the effect of the re-
moval of the censorship on all news
from ST. Petersburg to the outside
world?" the ambassador was asked.
He replied:
1T is believed that this will ef-
fectiyely diminish the number Of
canards, which have been secretly sent
from Russia, especially to England and
the United States about my country
| Censored dispatches We're wrongly
| considered abroad as having the ap-
proval of the government. Nothing
could be further from the truth, unless
it could be the further assertion that
uncensored dispatches represented
the facts as they were. With the cen
! sorship removed it is believed the out
side world would have q better idea of
| the government and people Of Russia
1t was gratifying to learn from an
American special dispatch a few days
ago that the officials were strictly ad-
herring to the policy Of making public
the news from the far East whether
| good or bad.
I'm the desire that peace might be
preserved with Japan, my government
| was giving special attention to further
methods by which diplomatic settle