Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-07-25
AS SEEN FROM LONDON.
Malacca Seizure Not All That Is In.
VOlVed.

MaIacca Seizure Not All That Is In.
vOlved.
London, July %. The authoritative
assurances that the Malacca will be
released, cabled by the Associated
Press from ST. Petersburg to the Uni
ted States, do not appear in the Brit
ish morning papers. Special dispatches
to somewhat similar effect from St.
Petersburg do not allay the alarmist
views of the leading organs, who con-
strue Premier Balfour's post midnight
announcement that the government
had received no confirmation of the
reported release Ct the Malacca 10
mean that the incident remains unset
tied.
Another cause for great apprehen-
sion is the broader question of Rus
sia's right to send vessels of her vol
unteer fleet through the Dardanelles.
A striking evidence that the danger of
the situation has not been mitigated in
the least, so far as British official and
public opinion is concerned, is afforded
by the Daily Telegraph, which, under
large heading "An Acute Affair,
declares that relations between Great
Britain and Russia have reached the
state of an acute crisis, but behind the
incident of the Malacca is the far
larger question of the status Of the So
called volunteer fleet.
at has, we believe, been made clear
to the czar's government that the
transformation of merchant vessels
passing through the Dardanelles into
armed cruisers cannot be recognized
under any pretext whatever as Justify
ing Russia 3 interference with British
shipping. 1t is not impossible that as
a concession to Russian dignity the
government may offer to permit the
Malacca to put into some neutral port,
where her cargo may be examined and
the statement verified that whatever
munitions she carried were intended
for the use of the British China
squadron.
Telegraph More Alarmistic.
In its editorial article the Daily
Telegraph becomes even more alarm
istic, declaring that on Russia re-
Spouse to Lord Lansdowne 1.-THE issues
of peace or war are staked." Continu-
ing, the Daily Telegraph says that
only in the event that Russia is pre-
pairing to accept the British conditions
on the larger issue would the govern
ment, as "sop to Russian dignity
permit the Malacca to be taken to a
neutral port.
1.-The main question to be settled be-
tween the Russian and British govern
ments, if we are to maintain even tech
nical relations of friendship, says the
Daily Telegraph editorial, sis the stat
us of the so-called volunteer fleet. "
The point which has been made clear
to the cars government by Lord Lans-
done is that Great Britain will not
permit a lightning change from mer-
chant vessel to an armed cruiser.
I'm other words, if these unc hartered
libertines of the Russian navy attempt
I to stop or search British vessels they
will be called upon to desist, and if
they refuse to obey the demand they
will be fired upon and sunk. We fur
Their understand that the Ottoman gov
eminent will take steps to prevent the
passage of the Janus-faced vessels
through the Dardanelles and in the
event of their evasion will notify our
government of their departure. These
problems are altogether independent of
the war in the far East. We are act
ing, and shall continue to act, not as
the ally of Japan, but as the greatest
naval power, protecting the highways
against the illicit inroads of pirates.
The significance of such language by
a paper so much in the confidence of
the government and which has been
strongly in favor Of an Anglo Russian
entente, can scarcely be overestimated.