The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-26
AFTER THE .sMoLENsK.
British Cruisers Sent toSTcll Her
Of the Orders Issued by
Her Government.
I(Ry Ahsoclated I,rnss.l

(By Associated Press)
LONDON, August as. Prime Minister
Balrour announced this evening that the
British government had ordered / two
cruisers from the squadron at the Cape
Of Good Hope without delay to locate the
Russian fleet, steamers smolensk and
Petersburg and to convey to them the
orders Of the Russian government that
they must not further interfere With
neutral shipping The Premier stated
that this action was tnken at thegrcduesty
OF the Russian goyerninest. This extra
ordinary statement was made when TIE
Premier, BY appointment, received q
dcputatlon Of tho London Chamber Of
Commerce. ~
Prior to receiving the deputation, Mr..
.Balfo,r, during the day, had been busly
5enga ged In connection with the qucs Ton
which had been raised with regard To
Russian treatment Of British shipping.
After giving q number Of private Inter-
Views, the Premier held an important
meeting at the foreign Office, to which!
representatives Of the Intelligence De-
pnrtmerit Of tho War Office. the admir-
atty, the foreign o.o.e and the Board Of
Trade were summoned. .3=
TO the deputaton Mr.. BalfourS said,
before 1nakiES3a general statement, he de-
sired ito hear evidence tending to show
pre- ferential treatment by Russia, which
was most Important phase Of the situa-
DISCRIMINATION CHARGED.
Members of.ttho deputation quoted the
case OF the Portland and Asiatic line
steamer ARABIC and the British steamer
3Calchas. The former was allowed 4 to
proceed, While the latter was still at
Vladlyostok, and the mem bers pointed out
! l,, -, a y, n
nature Of n the cargoes We're concerned.
The cargoes OF the Peninsula and Oren-
tai Company's steamer N lacca and the
Ham burg AmSpccan line steamer Scandal
were Quoted. Each Of the vessels had
ammunition on board.
Il The deputation next re- erred Ito the
sinking Of d the British steamer knight
Com mander4 Hnd the German steamer
Thea BY the Vladivostok squadron, and.
pointed out that colsss sat- ~ had been g,
nai1 q IN the case of Thea, while 1t \ had
not been even promised In that Of the
Knight Comma nder. II 81 fs5 8ss
"A Members Of the depntat lon also stated
that 1T was notorious that shipments Of
contraband Of war had been made from
Antwerp ana Hamburg. while Insurance
rates from those and from French ports
were much lower than from En- lisl, ports
In the ratio Of five shillings to twenty
shillings. III n IA c. Y
WILL GIVE THEIR OWN ORDERS.
Premier Balfours said he had been Inform m
cdlast night by Anlbassa d or Benken ddrff
THAT the Russian government was not Ger
tain that the slnolensk had received orders &C Is
1.-THE Russian government wa 9 no T certain
that the. smolcnsks had received orders rs e.
Bin accor dance with the recent agreement %,
concerning the 81 sn,ps:
gestion Of the British government. the
l}Russia11 government had Iaut hOrized Great
1 Britain to assist In locating and Notifying
1.-the cruisers. circumstances Mr.tl3allouI
announced, q the British goYernmert nag q
| ordered two cruisers from the Cape 81
Good Hope to proceed Immediately and
search for and locate the Smolensk a M
|her consort and convey to them me N.
4 stru cttons from the Russian government
to- desist from further interference with
5neutral commerce. - . 5.A Z I,
! RE gardings contraband of war, Mr. Bal
| four said It was difficult to- define clearly
4 what was central band of war but the GOV.
| eminent had not accepted the doctrine laid
|bdoWn with some Russian otifcat lions, TO
4 the effect that coal, foodstuffs cotton
! and many other things were x q bsolutely
! contraband, and the fac Z t hat tins We're
4 found on board al ship justitie the seiz-
ire ofsthe goods. and In certain case, me e
conflsca ton OF the syess II ne case had
4 been put most clearly by Lord Lans,
downe to the, Russian Eoyern mn =, a ana
\ siblity Of {recedlng. \ B.
4 Mr.. Balfour said The shipping indus.
4 tries might RELY on the government doing
4 everything right and just to protect the
II MT