The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-28
SATISFACTION
In Full Is Promised BY the
Russian Government
For the Sinking of the Steamer
Knight Commander.
UNCLE SAM DRAWN IN.
Senator Mitchell on Behalf of
UNCLE SAM DRAWN IN
Senator Mitchell on Behalf of
Portland MiIIers
Forwards Vigorous Protest on
Account of the Arabia.

London, July 2S.-Foreign Secretary
| Lansdowne has received assurances
from the Russian government that full
satisfaction will be given Great Britain
in the matter of the sinking of the
steamer Knight Commander.
Tension Relaxed.
London, July 2S.-The tension in
the Russo British relations has been
relaxed and no rupture is now prob
able. Count Beckendorff, the Russian
am bassador to Great Britain, informed
Lord Lansdowne this morning that if
Russia had committed a wrong she
was ready and willing to make full
reparation, but before any action
could be taken in the Knight Com
mander case the Russian government
must have the opportunity of rece1V-
ing the report of the commander of
the Vladivostok squadron.
Lord Lansdowne was not disposed to
unduly press the matter and promised
to wait a reasonable time
The Law in the Case.
Montpelier, VT, July 2S.-In regard
to the international law governing the
seizure of ships by Russia in the Red
sea, the right of search and seizure
of contraband articles, and the status
of Russian converted cruisers in the
passage of the Dardanelles, J. w.
Burgess, professor of political science
in Columbia university, who is pass
ing the summer in this city, is quoted
as saying:
"Contraband of war may be seized
by the regularly commissioned war
vessels of a belligerent power upon
merchant vessels carrying the flag of
neutral powers when in course of
transportation to the other bellig-
erent, provided the search and seizure
be not made in neutralized waters or
in for q n a
neutral power.
Right of search by the said reg
ularly commissioned war vessels of a
belligerent power of merchantmen
under the flag of neutral powers is an
established right. Some of the contf-
mental European nations have sought
to modify this practice by placing
merchantmen carrying a neutral flag
tral power and holding that the assur-
ance given by the commander of the
neutral warship that there was no
contraband articles on any of the yes
sells under convoy should waive the
right of search, but England has
never assented to this.
THE Dardanelles and the Bos-
phoruS are neutralized waters The
warships of no power have any right
there at ALL but the Red sea is not
neutralized internationally, and not
even the Suez canal, as 1 understand
it. How much of the Red sea Great
Britain will regard as an approach to
the Suez canal is an uncertain guam
tity in the calculation.
1.-The ancient practice permitted the
confiscation of the ship carrying the
contraband, and Russia alone has not
renounced this practice. In certain
cases the old practice is adhered to by
all nations; for instance. when the
merchantmen under. the neutral flag
is carrying dispatches directly to the
other belligerent or is carrying the
troops of the other belligerent, it is
then making itself an instrument in
the hands of the belligerent.
1.-The critical thing m connection
with this point is the search OF the
mails for such dispatches. When this
becomes necessary in the opinion of
the searching belligerent, he should
take the mail bags unbroken to the
nearest port where there is a consul
of the power whose flag is borne by
the searched vessel, and search them
in the presence of the said consul. If
this is not a possible thing, the bellig-
erent may proceed without 1t but
should act in perfect good faith and
in the most considerate manner.
Looking to England.
London, July Z8.-It developed today
that the United States is depending on
Great Britain to obtain compensation
for the loss of the Knight Comnlan-
ders cargo. 1t is the custom FOR ship
owners to be responsible for cargoes
and therefore the American claim is to
be made to the owners of the Knight
Commander, who, of course are British
and who in turn will make a claim to
the British government
Acute Stage Passed.
London, July 2S.-In the house of
commons this afternoon Premier Bal |
four, confirming the announcements |
made in these dispatches, said the |
acute stage of the Red sea incidents
had passed and that the Russian vol |
unteer fleet vessels would be with |
drawn. He laid down the British view
that no belligerent warship could issue |
from the Black sea and that the vol |
unteer fleet vessels in issuing there |
from, if they took belligerent action, |
either had no right to issue or no right
to take such action
The strongest possible exception had
been taken to the seizure of the Malac-
ca on the above ground, the premier
added. The Russian government had
to this particular incident. As to the
Knight Commander case the govern
ment had earnestly protested that the
of that vessel was contrary
to the accepted practice of nations. Mr.
Balfour assumed a serious tone as he
referred to the Knight Commander.
There are, I am sorry to say, said
the premier, "other questions not con-
nected with the incident at all which
must cause some discussion between
the two governments There may De
legitimate cause for anxiety. We hold
that it is not proper that on the au-
thor1ty or captain OF d CRUISER lildI
goods alleged to be contraband of war
should be taken from a merchant ship
without trial.
This statement of the premier was
greeted with an outburst of cheers.
Mild at First.
Washington July 2S.-The state de-
partment has addressed itself to the
Russian government through Spencer
Eddy, the American charge at st. Pc
tersburg, on the subject of the seizure
of the cargo of the Arabia by the