The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-22
SmoIensk and St. Petersburg
May Be So Regarded.
British Navy Expected to In
tercept the Malacca.
MUCHWAR TALKHEARD
London Newspapers Declared
Crisis H ad Been Reached.
Peace or War Hung on the Re-
ply of Russia.

Washington, July 22.-Stephen Eddy
the American charge d affairs at St
Petersburg today cabled the state de-
partment that the British embassy
there had been officially notified that
the steamer Malacca has been released
and that in consequence the existing
tension has been relieved.
CIassed as Pirates.
Constantinople. July 22.-The pass
age of the Russian volunteer fleet
steamers Smolensk and St. Petersburg
through the Dardanelles under a COM
mercial flag and their subsequent moist
ing of the naval flag is considered here
TO be a violation of international law
rendering the vessels liable to be re-
garded as pirates. 1t is thought that
Great Britain Will avail herself of the
presence of her Mediterranean fleet to
emphasize her protest against the ac-
tion of the volunteer steamers in the
Red sea and it is anticipated that she
will intercept the Malacca.
No further steamers have traversed
the straits since the Smolensk passed
through and it is believed that Great
Britain will protest against the further
passage of the Dardanelles by Russian
steamers unless the government gives
an explicit understanding that the YES
ers.
Russia Submits a Proposition.
Paris July 22.-1:45 p. MT was
said at the foreign Office at noon that
the exchanges OF -con1lnunications go
ing on between London, St Peters,
burg and Paris show that the tension
of the Anglo-Russiau- situation has
been materially relieved 1t now ap-
pears that Russia has submitted to
the British government a certain
proposition, which if acceptable will
serve as the basis for an adjustment
These exchanges have been somewhat
informal and are being described as
hints, but they are sufficiently clear to
indicate Russia'S purpose to adjust the
question. The outcome now is con-
sidered to be hinging on Great Brit
aims answer. 1t is understood that
the proposition contempIateS the re$
lease of the Malacca, but the officials
say that the previous reports that or
ders had actually been issued for her
release are incorrect 1t is further
asserted that the prospective adjust
ment will be confined to the seizure of
the Malacca and will not include the
general question of the right or Russia
under the treaty of Paris to send YES
sells of the volunteer fleet through the
Dardanelles. 1t is considered inop-
perfume to discuss a readjustment of
the rights of the powers under the
treaty of Paris during a time of war
and therefore if the question of a. re-
adjustment is raised it probably will
anese- Russian war
Russia's Reply Received.
London. July 22.-2:25 p MN
accordance with instructions from
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff, Count
Bencken1orff. the Russian ambassa-
dor to Great Britain, has informed
Foreign Secretary Lansdowne that i'm
mediately upon the esta blishment of
the presence of the Broad Arrow-the
government mark-upon the muni-
items on board the seized steamer
Malacca and the fact that no other
cargo of a contraband character is
or board that vessel she will at once
be released. In response to this noti-
fcation Lord Lansdowne assured
Count Benckendorff that all the boxes
marked with the broad arrow were
the property of the British govern
ment and the secretary added that
he had been informed by the PENN
sular & Oriental company. the owners
of the Malacca, that there was no
contraband on board, a statement
which was accepted because of the
standing of the company. Russia is
now awaiting a verification of the COM
pany's statement.
War Risks High.
London. July 22.-Twenty guineas
percent was quoted at LloydS today
for insurance against the outbreak of
an Anglo-Russian war within three
weeks This is the rate which pre-
vailed at Lloyds on the Russo-Japan-
ese war three weeks prior to the out
break of hostilities.
Marine Insurance Suspended.
Seattle, Wash. July 22.-Local ma
rine insurance agents received cable
instructions from London to accent no
risks on ships or cargo destined for
Japan without authority from Lon
don. This is considered a suspension
of the marine insurance business to
the Oriental belligerent ports. The
agents say it is the direct result of
the seizure of the NIalacca. But one
American steamship is now on the
high seas from Puget sound with a
cargo for japan She is the Boston
steamship compary's vessel Shamut
which sailed July 1 s with $4,000 tons
of cargo. including 100000 pounds of
canned beef from Chicago billed to
Kobe. The local agent of the com
pany, declared today that he did not
fear the seizure of the vessel as the
cargo was consigned to private indi-
viduals. and not to the Japanese army
Official Report on the Seizure.
St Petersburg. July 22-5:05 P. M
The report of the captain of the ST.
Petersburg which has at last reached
the admiralty. gives as his reason for
suunmarily making a prize of the
steamer Malacca, the fact that the
British master Of the Malacca declined