The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-30
A SPEECH BY BALFOUR.
RitiiCules Roicstvensky's Story and
Thinks the Admiral Should be
Punished,
(By the Associated Press. J


southampton, Eng, Oct. 28.-Pre-
mier Balfour addressed an immense
meeting in Artillery Hail tonight.
his appearance on the platform w;ts
the signal for great shouting, which
was again and again renewed
Mr.. Balfour said:
IF this meeting had been held yes
terday evening l would not have darec
to preface my remarks in a hopefu,
tone. Everybody felt that if the traW-
Ter incident could be repeated a be;-
.hgerent fleet was indeed pes,
against which all neutral powers
would be bound to combine. In the
story of our fishermen there was
much tragedy but no romance; in the
STORY of the Russian admiral there
is no tragedy. but l am driven 20 the
pellef that there is much romance
1t is impossible TO doubt which is The
correct story. | should not have al.
preached it but for the fact that the
admiraFs story is really an at acR
upon our national honor and implies
that we are not doing our duty rs
neutrals. In an island kingdom like
Great Britain the nationality of everv
craft is known. 1t is inconceiVa bic
that we could be harboring Japanese
sailors and Warships without Russia.
and indeed the whole civilized worlu
knowing, L enter most emphatic
Rojestyensky's Story Ridiculed.
The premier said ii was incredible
that a fishing fleet could be engagea
lin hostile operation ana ridiculed the
idea CT torpedo boat attack. The
Russian fleet was 80 miles out of its
course and it was absurd to suppose
that the commander of the alleges
torpedo craft would choose a position
for attacking the Russian fleet in the
center of Il fishing fleet. The preuie,
expressed disbelief in the existence on
these japanese ships and said the
nearest Japanese warship was 14,0CG
miles away Such a story as that told
by the Russian admiral was the pur-
est fancy. Phe minister hoped the
truth would be made manifest ana
clear as noon day when the inquiry
which the Russian Emperor welcomed
took place. The Russian government
had not at any time moderated the
gravity of the crisis or failed to DO
what it could to diminish it.
1t could not for a moment be sup
posed that throughout all the chan
nels of commerce from st. Petersburg
to VladiVoStock and the national
ways of commerce. like the Englis 1
Channel and the Red Sea, an admiral
of another power should be allowed
to pass under such circumstances uu-
after such a deed as that of the night
Of October 81 The Russian adn.iraI
had "a theory of the rights and duties
of belligerent feet as against nett
trails which would really make the
high seas a place of public danger.
Suppose some dark night a liner or
transport fell in with the second Pa.
cific fleet at Gibralter when they has
intended TO divide, and approached
within the magic distance, accordin=
to the admiral's theory he would DC
justified in sinking it. The position
is one impossible for neutrals to toI-
crate. A fleet animated by that policy
would be a fleet which would have 10
be eliminated out of existence If ciN.y
lied commerce was to pursue its Wav
unimpeded. 81 am glad to think that
in this view the Russian government
agrees and has given orders wh'cl
will prevent a recurrence of the trac-
edy that has filled our hearts With
sorrow and the hearts of all those who
had heard of it abroad with something
a~oroaching Indignation"