Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-19
AN INTERCHANGE OF VIEWS.
Impression at St. Petersburg Over Hed
Sea Matter.

ST PETERSBURG, July 10, 4:35 pm
The first impression in diplomatic circles
here that the action Of the Russian Volun-
teer fleet vessels in stopping neutral ships
in the Red sea to search for contraband OF
war would not give rise to international
complications Is being superseded by the
IMPRESSION which there is good reason 10
believe Is we'll founded, that, instigated by
Great Britain, 1t will at least lead to an In
terchange of views between the powers
signatory to the treaty of Paris regarding
the status Of the remaining ships of the
volunteer fleet now in the Black sea.
Thus the old question of the Dardaneles
may again become the subject of important
diplomatic communications. Great Britain $
shipping being the most directly involved
the indications are that she will insist upon
a definition of the status of the volunteer
fleet vessels still in the Black sea.
AS a forcible reminder of what stopping
British ships involves, it is likely that Great
Britain's preliminary move may be the pre-
sentaton of claims for demurrage for the
detention of all ships stopped
Rights Of Belligerents.
The right of belligerent to halt neutral
vessels on the high seas to ascertain If they
have contraband on board is not questioned,
but the right to detain them even for few
hours may be held to render the belligerent
uaDle TO damages. IN auultlOn 10 tiie Claims
for the ships stopped by the Smolensk and
ST. Petersburg it is not improbable that
claims may also be presented for ships de-
tanned at Port Arthur at the opening of the
war and for those held in the Red sea by
Admiral WireniuS squadron before the lat
ter returned to the Baltic.
The passage of the DardanelleS by the
Smolensk and the ST Petersburg and their
conversion into cruisers being accom-
pished fact, Great Britain does not expect
to make point of their cases, except to
justify raising the question of the status of
the volunteer fleet vessels still in the Black
sea. Moreover, it is considered possible that
Japan may have already appealed to her
ally, as one of the signatories of the treaty
of Paris, on the ground that to allow more
RUSSIAN ships to go out of the Dardanelles
for conversion into warshipS without a pro-
test would constitute violation of neu-
trality.
Germany Requests Explanations.
Germany has called attention to the sez-
ure of the mails on board the Prinz Helm
rich In the Red July Is, by the Smo-
leEsk and has requested explanations.
These have not yet been given, the report
or the commander Of the Smolensk not
having arrived. The restoration of the
malls yesterday was made without instruc-
tons from ST. Petersburg
Russia having declared communications
intended for the Japanese to be contrabaad
OF war. maintains the right to examine
such mail. but does not contend for the
right to take general mail addressed 20
Japan. and unless peculiar circumstances
justified the seizure OF the mails on board
the Prnz Heinrich the act will be dis
avOwed.
The Russian authorities apparently are
Tranquil on the subject of vessels of the
volunteer fleet passing through the Darda-
nelles. They maintain that they are per-
fectly within their right, as there is abso-
lutely nothing in the treaty of Paris to pre-
vent their passage as merchantmen and
their subsequent conversion into cruisers.
There is no question of a false declaration
having been made at Constantinople.
1t was pointed out before the war that
vessels of the volunteer feet carrying arms
munitions and soldiers passed without the
shadow of question being raised.