Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-24
NEWS OF RIOTS IN ST. PETERS.
BURG CAUSES STIR IN
WASHINGTON.
CAssINI SURPRISED
Ambassador From Russia Hopes for a
Peaceable Settlement Of the Difficult.
tles-Japanese Minister Hears News
Hays Opinion on Result.

WdSHlHSIOns IL. C., Jan. ES.-Ine
news of the uprising in Russia has
caused profound sensation at the
White House, In the state department
and among diplomats generally. No
official communication regarding the
riots have been received, the informa-
tion of the state department and rep.
resentatives Of foreign powers being
alike confined to the press dispatches.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambas-
sador, who returned from New York
at 8 o'clock last night, said soon after
his arrival:
II know nothing beyond some press
reports that was shown in New
York and some additional ones that
have seen since reached Washington.
have heard nothing at all from my
government on the subject and there.
fore can say nothing about something
of which have.no official knowledge"
Count Cassinf plainly was greatly
disturbed by the reports.
Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese minister,
showed little surprise over the news,
but refused to comment on it in any
way.
No Surprise 70 State Department.
| State department officials, and espe.
cially Secretary Hay, have been ex-
pecting just what has happened.
Through confidential reports from
American representatives and others,
they have long known that the war
with Japan was more unpopular In
Russia than the outside world be-
lieved or suspected, and they expected
an outburst Of popular resentment
soon after the fall OF Port Arthur.
They are surprised only at the report
that even the regular troops have
Joined in the revolt. J..
The revolt Of the soldiers, provided
that 1t was participated In by any
large number Of troops, they consid.
cred significant Of general revolu.
ton which may end in repetition OF
the days Of the French commune and
finally in the establishment OF a repub-
lie. Such result however, is re.
garded as only barely probable.
In any event, Secretary Hay and the
other high officials of the state de-
partment are convinced that 1t will be
impossible to restore peace in Russia
until the war with Japan Is ended, and
they expect the revolt to have a
prompt effect in forcing the czar to
open peace negotiations with Japan.
On the suDposition that the disaffec-
tion among the troops is not wide
spread state department officials be-
lieve that revolts will continue to
spring up throughout Russia so long as
the war lasts and that the uprisings
will grow in strength and number.
With an unpopular foreign war and
increasing troubles at home it is not
seen how Russia can long continue
the war with Japan.
End of Romanoffs Possible.
! While state department officials hes.
itate to regard the overthrow of the
Romanoff dynasty as probability they
admit, that it is possible, and that 1t
4 may be the end Of the troubles If the
cZar does not soon throw off the bane.
ful influence Of the grand dukes and
the bureaucrats who now are the real
power in Russia. 1t was the beaucrats
who deceived Secretary Hay as to Rus.
sia's intentions in Manchuria and who
planned the war with Japan, and the
1 whole responsibility for Russia's pres.
ent troubles is thrown on them, though
the pitiful weakness of the czar is ad.
mitted to have been the initial cause.
Grand Dukes Vladimir and Michael
ovitch are known here as the leaders
of the forward movement" which
has plunged Russia into all of her
troubles. Their influence over the
czar is SO great that it is feared they
may force him to maintain an attitude
4 that eventually will result in his own
! overthrow.
j All the European diplomats regard
the situation as serious to the reigning
house and even the most optimistic of
them do not believe the revolts will
finally be suppressed until peace has
been restored with Japan.
/ Fervent prayers were offered In
many of the churches Sunday for the
Russian emperor and his people. In
tense interest in the struggle at the
Russian capital was manifested.
. THE ER. =