The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-26

49don. July 2z-~The authoritfee
assurances that he Malacca viii eoe
released. cabled by Associated Press
from St. Petersburg to the Uhsted
States, do not appear in the British
morning papers.
Especial dispatches to a somewhat
EsimIar effect from st. Petersburg DO
mot allay the ,ala-mist views sof the
leading organs, which constrse Pres
mier Balfour's post-midnisst an
: nouncement that the government had
received no conformation Of the re-
ported release of the Malaccss 20 mean
. thai the incident remains unsettled.
Another csuse for great epprehen-
sion is the broader questioel of Rus
sia's right to send her volunteer fleet
through the Dardanelles.
Striking evidence that she danger
of the situation has not been mitigat-
ed in the least, SO far as the British
official and public opinion is concern
ed, is affordedIby the Daih Telegraph,
which,. under a large trpe CAPTION,
AN Acute Crisis" declares that 1.-The
relations between Great Britain and
Russia haps r reached the stage of an
acute crisis, but behind the incident
of the Malacea is the far larger ques-
ton OF the status of the<so-called VOL
unteer fleet.
1t has we believe, been made clear
to the Cars government that the
transformation of merchant veSSel6
passing the 1Dardanelles as such. into
armed cruisers. cannot be
under n pTeteXt whatever as juSti-
fylng Rnssia's interference with Bril-
tlsh shipping. 1t is not impossible
that as concession to Russian dignity
the may offer to permit
the Malacc& to put into some neutral
port, where her cargo may be eXamin-
ed and the statement proved that
whatever munition she carried were
for the use of the British
China squadron"
In its editorial article this morn
ing, the Daily Telegraph beEomes'
even more yalarmist, declaring thar
upon Russiass to Lord Lans-
downes demands the issues of peace
or war are Ezaked."
Continuing. the Daily Telegraph
says: The point which hash tneen
made clear to the Cars government
by Lord L~ansdowne is that Great
Hrltaln will Rot permit a lightning
change from a merchant vessel to an
armed cruiser. In other words. if
GleSe chartered tuhertineS of the
russian navy attempt to stop or to
scare a British vessel. they will be
called upon to desist. and if they re-
fuse to obey the demand they will be
hred upon and sunk. We further un-
derstand that the gOttoman govern
ment will take steps to prevent the
passage of these Janus-faced vessels
through the DaBdanelles, and in the
event of their evasion, will notify our
government of their departure
The significance of such
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 over
estimated.
The Standard assesses little abate-
ment in the gravity of the crisis as a
result OF the statement Of the st.
Petersburg authorities that the Malac-
ca will be released: Our digniy and
eself-respect," says the paper editorial
.ly, that she be released be-
Tore n reaches the Baltic. The ad-
-m1ral in m OF the Mediterra-
mean squadron has received his in
structions. His cruisers are being
rapidly directed to the proper points.
ndRe~Dresume that1f the Malacca
Necessary bal!ot 07fAsea.~
WIN Ge-reercepted ber4ahlS.1- elaf be
rFha straits ~ 9Th &c.,