New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-11
THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

If is obviously the Intent Of the Russian gov
ernment to keep itself represented IN America
bv an Ambassador who is an expert IN Ear
Eastern politics For seven years 1t has had
at Washington Count Cassini. one OF us mosl
experienced and astute diplomats and the one
who was foremost in the efforts to secure TOT
Russia exclusive privileges and predominant
influence In China. 1t was, indeed. Count cas-
sinis work at Picking that opened the present
chapter in Russo-Chinese relations and LED
straight to the Viceroyalty of Admiral Alexien
and the serious complications which have re-
suited from it. At Washington Count Cass1m
has served his sovereign with indefatigable de-
yotion and with much efficiency, for which he
is now to be rewarded with promotion TO the
Ambassadorship to Spain.
He is to be succeeded at Washington by
Baron Rosen, who is also an expert in Asian
affairs and has played an important part IN
the promotion Of Russian designs in the Far
East For a number Of years before the pres
ent war he was the Russian Minister to Japan.
As such, almost exactly seven years ago, he
made with Baron Nishi, then Foreign Minister
of Japan, an important treaty, protocol, in
which Russia practically conceded some Of the
fundamental demands which Japan made
wear and q half ago and which Russia then de-
MED. In that protocol Russia engaged to rec
''ognize the independence and the perfect SOW
"ereignty Of Corea," and also to recognize the
paramount commercial and industrial interests
Of Japan In that country. That in April, 1898
was the beginning of a new chapter IN Russo
Japanese relations which promised to be NUT
uaIIy benehcent. In the course Of five years,
however, that chapter was ended and another
was begun, in which Baron Rosen again par
tcipated. He was q member Of that famous
conference at Port Arthur IN July, 1903, along
oy,H4 aT1If
tious Admiral Alexief and some others, the Sc
queI and presumably the result Of which was
the retirement Of Mr.. Witte from the practical
head Of the Russian Cabinet and the appoint
ment of Admiral Alexteff as Viceroy Of the
East.
Finally, 1t was Baron Rosen who, in the win
ter of l9O3rO4 as Russian Minister to Japan
conducted with Baron Komura at Toxic the
negotiations which preceded the present war
and which were, unhappily, futile for averting
it, In that work, Of course, he was the loyal
agent of the Russian government-which just
then meant Viceroy Alexief-and he is not to
be held in any wise personally responsible for
what occurred. lie was presumably sincerely
DESTROYS of peace, but he could not control cir
cumstances at St. Petersburg. Indeed, he was
regarded with the highest esteem and with no
little sympathy by the Japanese, who saw in
him an unfortunate and unwilling though loyal
agent Of the Russian war party. Early in the
afternoon Of February 6, 1904, he was Informed
by Baron KOmura that the negotiations were
ended and diplomatic relations We're severed;
on February he received from st. Peters
burg another set Of proposals from the Russian
government, which, Of course, came too late to
be presented to Japan, and which would have
been unacceptable had they arrived sooner; on
February the war began. and on February II
Baron Rosen made his departure from Toxic
amid general sentiments Of regret and good
will
Considering the deep interest of America in
the Asian war and the strong desire of Russia
to have her side of the tragic controversy rep
resented here in the most authoritative and eff
fective manner, it is probable that no better
choice Of a successor to Count Cassini could
have been made than that of Baron Rosen