Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
'ENCLtND's Intention
II s.
j M
Case Of Sinking Of the Knight
Commander
DISCUSSED BY CABINET
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR CLoSETEI
WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY.
British Government Desires to Obtain
All the Facts Before Approach
ing Russia on Subject.


British steamer knight Commander by
Russian cruiser OF Japan was fully dis
cussed at meeting of the cabinet today
held at the foreign Office
before the meeting Count BenckendorH,
the Russian ambassador. was cioseted with
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne and dis
cussed In detail the operations of the Rus
sian cruisers in connection with neutral
shipping, but, as the Russian embassy had
not been officially informed by the Russian
government of the destruction of the
Knight Commander, the ambassador was
unable to make any statement to the for
eign secretary
The Knight Commander incident is one
which Is attracting close official and pub
lie interest. for the reason that in the
British official view it is one thing to
seize a ship having contraband on board
and another to sink her without proper
legal inquiry to establish whether she is
a good prize.
The British government has no inten-
ton of acting hastily, being DESTROYS OF
obtaining all the facts in the case before
approaching Russia on the subject. The
British authorities in Japan have insti-
tuted an inquiry and are obtaining testi-
mony which will enable the British gov
eminent to make up its case.
1t Is said in a reliable quarter that Great
Britain will make earnest representations
to Russia with the view to securing repa-
ration and to prevent interference with neu-
trail commerce. such as 1t has been sub
jected to recently. While proposing to act
herself In behalf of vessels flying her own
flag Great Britain holds that 1t is time that
all neutrals should take some steps to pro-
tect neutral vessels and neutral goods. But
the exchanges of communications which
have been going ON in this connection have
not yet borne fruit.
1t Is known that the United States is suf-
ficiently interested in the fate of the Knight
Commander to make inquiries concerning
her. but, SO far as the British government
Is informed, no action has yet been taken
by the State Department at Washington.
A Russian diplomat said to a represent
tative OF the Associated Press today that 1t
would be unwse for the people Of the
United States or Great Britain to jump to
the conclusion that an act of wanton de-
struction had been committed by the COM
mander Of the Vladivostok squadron. He
could not spare the time to separate con-
traband from neutral goods and dump the
former overheard. Circumstances COM
PEELED him to sink the ship in order to pre-
vent her from carrying supplies to the Jap
anese government. If the Knight Com
mander had neutral goods on board their
owners would certainly be compensated.
1t Is known that Count Benckendorff
Russian ambassador to Great Britain, has
tary. Lord2Lansdowne, that In this or any
other incident of like character, IL wrong
Is done by Russian ships, the Russian gov
ernment Will make due reparation.
Russia's Right in the Case.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 26. Abs pm
While entirely without advices regarding
the circumstances surrounding the sinking
Of the Britis4 steamer knight Commander.
Russia, the Associated Press Is informed at
the foreign office, maintains the right Of
her warshfps to sink neutral vessel carry
inc I,xv, L.
she is clearly confiscable and when circum-
stances render it impossible or too danger.
GUS to attempt to get her to q home port.
and in such cases liability for damages to
the value of the ship is not admitted.
LONDON. July. 28-While the negotia-
lions between Great Britain and Russia re-
specting the Red sea seizures have been
carried on in the most conciIiatory manner,
the Associated Press learns that In the rep
reservations to the ST. Petersburg govern
ment Foreign Secretary Lansdowne declar-
ed that Great Britain could not, in view of
her treaty alliance with Japan, allow any
Interpretation to be placed on treaties re-
lating to the Dardanelles which would per-
Russian volunteer feet from the Black sea
to the Mediterranean with the view of their
subsequent employment for war purposes.
It has not been generally known that
Lord Lansdowne went so far as to call
Russias attention to the Japanese treaty,
though suggestions have been published
in British and Japanese papers that the
action of the Smolensk and st. Petersburg
in traversfng the Dardanelles had placed
Turkey In the position Of giving assist
ance to Russia, and that this made 1t
Great Britatn's duty to come to the relief
Of her ally. as required by the Anglo
Japanese treaty. 1t is understood that
the Russian authorities gave careful con-
sideration to this feature of the British
representations, and although maintain
ing the British contention to be unJusti-
fable, determined. in the interest of gen.
eral peace and in order to settle the cues
ton to waive the war privileges claimed
for the two volunteer feet steamers and
not to authorize further operations Of
ships of that character. 1t is pointed out
that as the places of the ST. Petersburg
and Smolensk will be taken by reeularly
accredited warships Russia feels she will
lose nothing, and at the same time avoid
Irritating neutra1s. with all of whom she
desires to remain on good terms.
Mr.. Balfour's Statement.
Premier Balfour. replying to a ques-
ton in the house OF commons TODAY in ra-
gard to the sinking of the British
steamer Knight Commander, said inoui-
ries were being made on the subject. but
he was not yet in position to make a
statement.
Replying to another question the pre
mier said the government was not a ware
of any convention concluded In 19O1 he.
tween Turkey and Russia providing sne-
cial conditions for the passage or the
Dardanelles by special Russian shins
Mr.. Balfour, while disclafminp that r..
was giving an authoritative decision aaid
he believed the declaration of Paris IN 1050
contemplated heeabohtion of priyateerinx
and the declaration that a neutral nag COW
ers an enemy's merchandise EXCEPT when
contraband d. war. Dealing with the oues-
ton Of whether the Russian volunteer ves-
sells. being private ships Commissioned nv
the state, were different materially from
privateers, the pramier said the whole oues-
ton of the status Of the volunteer shin.
was now u4sder discussion between Great
Britain and Russia. and that II would mt
be desirable to discuss that poinf in fhe
house of commons at present,
Regarding the Spggestion that in view of
Russfa's reservations at Paris in respect to
privateertng and Aer recent Commissioning
Of the volunteer ships, the British rovern-
ment wouHo consider the propriety of de-
nouncing the declaration Of Paris ana ~
reserving the right to capture during war
time an enefnys property carried untIer a
neutral flag, Mr.. Baffour said ne could mt
hold out any hope that Great Britain was
going to make recent occurrences the occa
son of any remonstrance to other novers
upon that broader subject.
No Representations at st. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 20, s:se pm
Neither the American nor tiAe British gov
arr, nm RI this hOr,v I,oh ,r.nz1