Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-01
LONDON BEW|LOEREO
Activity at Gibraltar Led to
Alarming Reports.
MOVE OF RUSSIAN SHIPS
ACTION BROUGHT CRISIS CLOSE TO
AN ACUTE STAGE.
British Government Irritated Over De-
parture of Squadron Without
Notification.
MOVE OF RUSSIAN SHIPS

LONDON, November I, 5:16 p.m.-London
has been bewildered all day long by alarm
ing reports indicating a renewal of the
glo-Russan crisis and showing that the
utmost activity is prevailing at Gibraltar
The first news received, announcing the
sailing of the Russian squadron from Vigo,
leaving only four subordinate officers to
give evidence at st. Petersburg, and then
testify before the international commission,
is considered here to be a breach of the
agreement and the interchange of visits
between Ambassador Benkendorff and Lord
Lansdowne followed, the foreign secretary
subsequently seeing various members of
the cabinet
Count Benkendorff at T. m went to Buck
ingham Palace and spent nearly half an
hour with the king. Later in the after
noon the ambassador again visited Lord
Iansdowne, who also received Lord Sell
borne, first lord of the admiralty; Premier
Balfour, Captain Prince Louis of Batten-
berg. the director of naval intelligence and
Admiral Sir John Fisher, senior lord of the
admiralty All this renewal of activity
created much apprehension in the public
mind, and late this afternoon the press
association issued the following:
THE Press Association has reason to be-
has again brought the Anglo Russian crisis
dangerously close to an acute stage Count
Benkendorff arrived at the foreign office
late this afternoon to see Lord Lansdowne
Mr.. Balfour. who had already seen the first
lord of the admiralty earlier in the day, has
just received visit from Lord Selborne
who was accompanied by Admiral Sir John
Fisher"
dispatch to news agency from Alder
shot Camp says orders have been issued for
strong drafts of all branches of the Royal
Engineers to be in readiness to leave for
Gibraltar at short notice.
Audience With the King.
Count Benkendorff the Russian ambassa-
dor, was received in audience by King Ed
ward at Buckingham Palace this afternoon
1t is assumed that the ambassador was the
bearer of a message from Emperor Mich
olas
Ambassador Benkendorff had a most cor
dial interview with the king, who it is I'M
derstood. expressed for transmission to ST
Petersburg his satisfaction at the present
method of settling the dispute.
Up TO the time he saw the king Count
Benkendorf had received no notification
that detachment of officers from the Rus
sian squadron at Vigo would attend the
nor had he heard of the sailing of the
squadron from Vigo. The ambassador
hoped, however, to receive without delay
information concerning the officers de-
tached.
The ambassador informed the Associated
Press that the departure of the squadron
would naturally follow the detachment of
these officers, in accordance with the un-
derstandng reached between himself and
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne last week.
Nothing definite has yet been decided re-
garding the details of the international
comm ission.
Another cabinet meeting has been sum-
moned for Wednesday to consider the An
glo-RuSsian convention covering the in
quiry into the North sea incident.
Learned Through British Sources.
The government here received a notihca-
ton from the British consul at Vigo that
the Russian squadron had sailed today and
some irritation was felt at the fact that
the Russian government had failed to pre-
viously notify the government regarding
the detachment of officers. Ambassador
Benkendorff is hourly expecting official ad-
vices and while the foreign office obvious
ly is annoyed at not knowing ofhcially that
Russia had carried out her part of the
bargain, no serious consequences are antici-
pated. 1t was officially stated to the As
sociated Press that with the exception of
the foreign omission to notify the govern
ment no hitch has occurred.
Count BenkendOrff had a long conference
at the foreign office last night with Premier
Balfour Lord Selborne, first lord of the
admiralty. as well as foreign secretary
Iansdowne were present. 1t is stated that
the draft of the proposed convention relating
TO the scope, composition and venue of the
international commission was drawn up. AS
this must be submitted TO st. Petersburg
for acceptance or revision, 1t will necessar-
Ny entail delay. The lack of Information
vouchsafed officially to the British press re-
rardfn.. the causes of these delays leads 10
all kinds of scare suggestions of bad faith
on the part of Russia and tends 10 spread
rumors for which II is difficult to find ade-
lA1i..f u.