The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-28

Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's reports
yet even the most astute diplomats
who recognize a temporary improve
ment in conditions are puzzled by the
complications that so curiously cause
1t. However, there is tonight at the
embassies of the powers not concern
ed in the dispute very strong convic-
tion that way out will be found other
than in recourse to war.
The foreign Office, apparently as
puzzled as onlookers, pursues the pol
icy of silence and the British press
is almost totally uniformed. No re-
ply from Russia has been received,
adding to the implication that Russia
is Intentionally ignoring the British
representations 1t is this miscon-
eeption which is chiefly responsible
for the stirring up of a popular agita-
tion against which the government
may find it hard to stand out in the
possible event of Foreign Minister
LansdoWne withdrawing the demand
that Russia guarantee punishment be-
fore inquiry is instituted.
CALLS IT IMPOSSIBLE
Baron Hayashi, the japanese min
lister, after reading Admiral Rojest-
yensky's report reiterated his state
Japanese torpedo boats could have
been where the Russian admiral
thought them. He declared that Ro-
jestyensky's own statement of indis-
criminate firing after such slight in
vestigation proved that the Russian
fleet was likely to menace the safety
of all neutral seas and make interna-
tional law merely a farce. War be-
tween England and Russia, Baron Hay
ashi frankly admitted, would be great
ly to Japan's advantage; yet as a
friend of England he would be sorry
to see it come, though such war could
hardly consist of more than one naval
enga agement, the result of which would
be a foregone conclusion.
Exactly what method can be taken
to investigate Vice Admiral Rojestven-
sky's statements does not clearly ap-
pear. The Russian embassy here can
throw no light upon the alleged pres
ence of torpedo boats in the North sea,
the British admiralty has no informa-
tion and fresh inquiry among the
trawlers elicits no new facts. The
Russian embassy thinks that the fur
ther and more elaborate inquiry is pro-
ceeding at Vigo, where the testimony
of the officers participating in the af-
fair is being minutely recorded. The
apparent contradiction between state
ments emanating from st. Petersburg
and the understanding here as to
whether or not Great Britain has de-
manded the punishment Of those re-
sponsible for the North sea affair rises
from the fact that while admittedly no
demands have been submitted by Am
bassador Hardinge at st. Petersburg,
Foreign Minister Lansdowne, in con-
versation with Count Lamsdorff, has
laid down propositions which to all in
tents and purposes are just as much
in the nature of demands as if they
had been specifically formulated, but
would be demands in the strictly
diplomatic sense only when formulated
and presented.
SAYS SHIPS WERE CHARTERED
COPENHAGEN, Oct. 27.-The
Danish ministry of marine was in-
formed that several ships were char
tered by Japan at Hull and intended to
attack the Russian second Pacific
squadron in the North sea. The Rus
slams were Informed of this. The ma
rine authorities credit the report.
The Danish ministry was officially
informed that thirteen Swedish vessels
had been chartered by the japanese to
attack the Russian squadron in the
Baltic. A Danish cruiser and tor
pedo boat watched the vessels so close
ly that their approach to the Russian
squadron was impossible.