The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-28

London, Oct. 25.-The inevitable de-
laws Of diplomatic procedure appear ID
retard a complete and satisfactory set
Element of the acute differences oe~
tween Great Britain and Russia arising
from the deplorable North Sea anair,
King Edward has received from Em-
perOr Nicholas himself a telegram ex-
pressing the deepest regret and a prac-
ticaI acknowledgement tina Grea-
Rritain's peremtory note will meet
with a reply c~onceding every demana
for an apology for the act OF the Rus-
slams against the British flag, compen-
sation for sufferers and punishment o.
the officers responsible for what is GV-
erywhere conceded to have been a 81
gantic blunder, and the Russian am
bassador to the court of St. James has
expressed to Foreign Minister Lan5-
downe his sorrow and sympathy. These
DEVELOPMENTS. which came late In the
day. have allayed to some extent the
deep resentment in the public mimi
and the admiralty tonight gave cVl
dence of its appreciation or the neces-
sity of proving that it is prepared ac-
I1VGly To SuppOI Tx poSiSAOh
people of Great Britain and fullhl me
expectations of the world when it is
suei the following statement:
.'On receipt on October "a of the news
of the North sea tragedy, preliminary
orders for mutual support and cooper
alton were issued as a measure OF pre-
caution from the admiralty to thS
channel, Mediterranean and honle
fleets"
The day has been one Of the busiest
in twenty years in diplomatic circles
here. The Russian ambassador, who
only reached London shortly be-
fore midnight Monday, was an early
caller at LansdoWne House and had a
long interview with Lord LansdoWne.
after which the foreign minister drove
to Downing street and conferred with
Premier Balfour and others, and for
the rest of the day was occupied with
a mass of matters pertaining to the
affair. Almost momentarily the pub
lie expected some definite announce
ment of an official nature. but late
this evening the foreign office an
nounced that no further statement
would be issued tonight. 1t is under
stood that this is because it is cons:d-
cred that it would be unwise, in the
present state of public feeling, to make
any intermediate proclamations, con-
corning diplomatic proceedings in
view of Great Britain's announcement
to Russia that the matter would Tot
brooke delay.
Count Benkendorff, the Russian am
bassador, was occupied until late to-
night at the embassy with a OF
cipher dispatches, and it was announc-
ed at the embassy that it would be
physically impossible to prepare a for
NAL reply in such a short time.
While Great Britain is stirred to ITS
depths, there has not been the slightest
evidences of a repetition of the roWdy-
ism of last night, which Is condemned
on all sides. The suggestion that Am
basSador B~enkendorff's visit TO LallS-
dovne House instead of Downing
street was due to fears of mob violence.
is indignantly denied at the foreign Of
flee and at the embassy. In fact, there
was not the slightest sign of any gath
ering of a. hostile crowd at the foreign
office, although the police precautions
were most thorough. Count Benken-
dorff himself discussed the incident OF
last night as trivial, and did not ap-
pear to consider it worth notice. Pop
ular appreciation Of the situation, how
ever, was evidenced when King Ed
ward appeared in public today. He
was greeted with more than usual en-
thuSiasm on account of the decided
tone of his telegram to the mayor OF
Hull on Monday. The speeches Of the
members of the cabinet and of the
house Of today in different
parts of the country voice the senti-
ment of Great Britain and the spirit
in which the utterances Were me-
shows that for the moment party diff
ferenceS have been laid aside and the
country is solidly behind the govern
ment.
Lord Selborne at the Pilgrims ban
duent tonight denounced the Dogger
Bank affair in the most outSpoken
terms yet heard from a member of the
cabinet as IAN inexcusable outrage
and "a terrible blunder which would
be impossible in either the British or
the American nayy."
Colonial Secretary Lyttalton, too, IN
another place spoke in plain terms, say
ing that it was impossible to view the
affair as other han the result of muir
derous inattention or wicked negli-
gence.
The post mortem examination Of the