The day before his death, Count Muravieff, the Russian Foreign Minister, 1 ceived the foreign Ambassadors and Mini-i Petersburg, including the inese Minister, with whom ha discussed the situ:
ion in China. After the reception, Neratoff, the representative of Count Muravielf, "who was commissioned held by Count Mura-of Russia with China.
The correspmiveut pnt the following questions to M. Neratoff:—1. Must the stance of the Chinese army and the firing upon the allied fleet at Taku be interpreted as a formal declaration of war by China?2. If so, what is the definitive aim of the war? 3. What will be later on the relations of Russia towards the other Powers in regard to this affair? 4. What are the intentions and phus of the allied Powers?
In reply, M. Neratoff suid:—"For the moment it cannot be sid that we are in a state of war with China in the louse which contemporary. international saw understands the word war.' It is possible that the order to commence active military operations at the Taku Forts came not from the central Chinese Government, jut from the provincial authorities, who may have acted exclusively at their own personal risk. Perhaps such a supposition will appear incredible to many people, and perhaps, asa matter of fact, there are things which tend to show indirectly that the ides is a false one, and one refuted, moreover, by an array of other taels. That may be. But from the point of view of formality we em not up to the present. "firm that China—that is to say, the loyal Chinese overnment—has deciared war upon us, ant upon the Powers working with us. Should the Chinese Government commence to use energy in putting down the revolt of the Boxers and of the troops who have joined them, it will be evident that Russia the other Powers have shown great, wresight in supporting the Chinese authorities.
"Like all the other nations now work:
together in the Fur East, Russia is pursuing exclusively humanitarian aims in the pacification of China and the suppression of the evil forces which are being directed against the foreign agents of civilisation, Russia has no ideas of conquest, and her friendly agreement with the Powers is animated by a high mission of culture and pacification. There is no doubt that within the limits indicated by this peaceful task all the Powers can entirely reckon in the future upon her sincere and reciprocal support and her participation in a work necessary for all.
"At the present moment Great Bri has the least possible reasons for desiring complications in any of her spheres of influence. She is occupied completely with the South African war, and he would be too bold a man who could imagine that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.