The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-11-04
ENGLAND awaits
NAVAL INQUIRY
BELIEF GENERAL THAT BRIT
ISL VERSION OF AFFAIR
WILL BE UPHELD.
FIVE ADMIRALS MAY
COMPOSE. COMMISSION
Premier Balfour Declares Nations Were
on Brink of War-Russian Ambas-
sador's Endeavors to Preserve
Peace Are Successful.

London, Oct. 31.-Profound satisfac-
ton over the fact that an arrangement
has been reached and the entire certain
ty that the result of the commission of
inquiry will be to discredit Vice Admiral
Rojestvensky's statements anent the
presence of torpedo boats among the
North sea fishing fleet mark the COM
ments of the London afternoon newspa-
pers almost universally. The admiral's
story, it is pointed out, has the great adj
vantage that it is capable of precise
proof or disproof. ''The Russian adj
miral can only make good his case by
producing the vessel whose presence he
alleges was among the trawlers,' says
the Westminster Gazette This feel
ing that the British contention will be
upheld pervades all classes and disposes
the public to calmly await the verdict.
Trading on the stock exchange opened
buoyantly and prices considerably adj
vanced all round.
Makeup of Commission.
The composition of the international
commission is the immediate subject of
communications passing between st.
Petersburg and London. 1t has been
suggested that it shall be comprised of
five admirals, French, Russian and Eng
lish and two from smaller powers, pos
sibly Denmark and Holland, to be NOM
mated by their respective governments.
Nothing yet, however, has definitely
II orin 6ay h &c,
been suggested though there might be
an opening there for in the proposal
that one law jurist from neutral power
shall be included in the commission.
Balfour Breaks Silence.
Premier Balfour, speaking at a
meeting of the national union of con-
sentative clubs at Southampton Fri
day night, broke that silence which
had been SO long preserved and had
brought the people of the United
Kingdom to condition of almost
desperate irritation, and given rise to
misconceptions which Mr.. Balfour
himself exposed "The Russian am
bassador," said Mr.. Balfour, "has au-
thorized statement to the following
effect: The Russian government, on
hearing of the North sea incident, at
once expressed it's profound regret,
and also promised most liberal COM
rensation. The government has or
Gered the detention at Vigo of that
part of the fleet which was concerned
in the incident, in order that the
naval authorities might ascertain
what officers were responsible for it;
that those officers and any material
witnesses would not proceed on the
voyage to the far east; that inquiry
would be instituted into the facts by
an international commission as pro-
yiGed by The Hague convention. That,
Mr.. Balfour interpolated, had nothing
to do with arbitration. 1t was the
constitution of an International com.
mission in order to find out the facts,
ana any person found guilty would be
tried and punished adequately. The
Russian government undertook that
precautions would be taken to guard
against recurrence of such incidents.
Special instructions on this subject
would be issued.
Mr.. Balfour plainly said that Thurs
day evening Russia and Great Britain
seemed to be on the brink of war, and
yet gave the frankest praise to the atti-
tude preserved throughout by the en-
peror and Russian government.
Inquiry at Hull.
The board of trade inquiry is likely
to be opened at Hull early next week
and will be presided over by naval Of
ficer, probably Admiral Sir Syprian
Bridge, assisted by leading lawyer,
the case being in charge of the solicitor
of the board of trade. The inquiry will
be confined to ascertain the circum-
stances from fshermens point of view
and assessing the damage.
Russian Ambassador Wins.
How hard Ambassador Benkendorff
worked for peace probably will never be
thoroughly known. When almost every
English paper, especially the Times, was
demanding what would undoubtedly
have led to war, when he was booted in
the public streets and followed much
against his will by a detective on
bicycle, Count Benkendorff preserved
not only the calmest and most friendly
demeanor but frankly admitted to Lord
Lansdowne that Russia might be in
the wrong on every point. The ambas-
sador did not stand on his dignity or
even resent the bitter ridicule of Ad-
miral Rojestvensky's report, merely
reiterating that whether the report was
right or wrong neither he nor Lord
Lansdowne were the proper authorities
to decide. In this view France and Ger
many sympathized and even Lord Lans-
downe eventually acquiesced. 1t is
thought that the foreign secretary's eff
forts to arrive at an honorable and
peaceful settlement were made infinite
ly harder by the attitude of the leading
papers.
The admiralty Saturday rescinded its
order stopping all naval leave, and the
Pail Mall Gazette says that although all
danger of war has passed great naval
demonstration in the nature of practice
is being planned as a sequel 20 the hos
tile mobilization
Fleet Not Ordered to Vigo.
The foreign Office informs the press
that it knows nothing of the British