Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-03
ALL SETTLED.
ENGLAND and Russia Agree
Not to Disagree.
British Excited to Extent Almost
Unprecedented.
Peace Negotiations Bring Matters 20 q
Peace Basis.

london. Nov. 2-Negotiations De-
tween Great Britain and Russia, ioon
ing to a settlement of the North
AFFAIR are progressing favorapiS' "'I
.h.r. n not the slightest danger VI
anv friction arising between TIE wv
Governments. The constitution OF inc
International commission under Inc
Hague convention Is on the verge VI
settlement.
In spite of these pacific conditions
Great Britain, today. experienced
war panic that can oni? D. co'npdre Gu
to the panic, which was o;~c'pitateu ny
the news of the sinking q he tra"iers
a. The North Sea Not for years have
no many aiarmist report ana naming
EXTRAS flooded London. The most ex-
traordinary feature Of this scare. when
was serious enough while 1t lasted, Is
that there was not one single circum-
stance to justify 1t.
The excitement started. early In the
div. when the newspapers announced
the departure OF the Russian Baltic
squadron from Vigo. The public were
not In possession OF the information
cabled by The Associated Press to the
concerned In the firing on the British
trawlers would be detached ana
Jumped at the conclusion that Russia
had broken faith by not OBTAINING the
vessels involved in the affair. On top
OF this came wild reports of tremen-
dous activity at Gibraltar.
Hour BY hour the news from GibraY-
tar became more serious. until at last
the climax was reached with the an
nouncement that the Britich fleet had
cleared for action. Some even said the
fleet had sailed to meet ROjestvensky's
squadron. In huge type the papers
made the parallel statements THE
Russian fleet has sailed" The British
fleet has cleared for action" No news
paper and no person seemed able to
explain these events. The reassuring
Information available in the United
States that the sailing of the Baltic
squadron from Vigo was with the con-
sent and agreeable to British govern.
ment was not even limited at by tho
papers here.
The news from Gibraltar became
more and more alarnist and finally
the foreign ONCE was over-run by re-
porters. some Of whom brought the
rumor that Admiral Beresford had al
ready sunk the remnant Of Admiral
ROjestvensky's fleet Ambassador Ben
kendorT. at that moment, was quietly
discussing with Foreign Minister Lans-
downc the personnel Of the internation-
al commission. but 1t was popularity
rumored that he was receiving an ul-
timatum.
Premier Balfour. Admiral Sir John
Fisher. commandments at Ports
mouth. Lord Selborne. first lord Of the
admiralty. and Prince Louis Of Batten-
bsrH. director Of naval intelligence
wUFs Ill In conference and 1t was OPEN
II limited that they were planning thu
drst stroke Of war. Az q matter d
fact they. IKE Lord Lansdowne, were
engaged In considering names that ha,
been suggested for the international
commission.
When all London was In this stat.
Of mind and while anybody. who nigh
be supposed to know anything was con
stantly being questioned as to war de
clared.' the foreign office decided 1,
and In order to allay the public excite
ment gave out to the press a state
ment:
Although II contained nothing tina
had not been published hours Garlic
in The Associated Press dispatche
from st. Petersburg and London. 1
served to inform the people here Of tn
exact situation. The general public
however. went to bed. tonight. firm il
to hear that Admiral RoiestveEsky wa.
~ the bottom Of the sea
Today's furore would b. lu6,crous ex
cept for the striking instance 1t ha
afforded OF the willingr 40 of the Brit
ish public to believe that almost an,
development is possible after the Nort]
sea affair. and for the enthusiasm pro
duced by Gibraltar's war-like news.
The foreign ONCE is intensely irritat
ed at the construction placed upo
what they declare must have bee
mere feet and garrison exercises Tn
Associated Press is authorized to stat
that no orders have been given tn
huge feet now concentrated at Gibral
tar to make any preparations in cor
pection with the departure Of Admire
Rojestvensky's squadron.
Some annoyance was caused
Downing street. earlier in the day b
the announcement Of the sailing flee
coming from the British consul at Wig
though the Russian government of.
cially informed the British government
that omcers. whose testimony is dc
sired. had been detached. Ambassado
R"nkendorn soon made amends for thi
omission. while Ambassador Harding
confirmed the news from st. Peters
burg. Both the Russian embassy an
the foreign ONCE affirm that the negc
tiations. today. were entirely confine
to the selection Of the Internations
commission, in which no hitch has oe
CURED.
Count Benkendorff, who twice ga,
Lord Lansdowne in addition to visitin
King Edward at Buckingham palace
was perfectly amazed to see fiamin
war posters as he drove back from hi
later visit to the foreign Office. In hi
two conversations with the British for
eign minister. the question of the sail
ing Of the Baltic squadron had not eve
been raised. except when the ambassa
dor informed Lord Lansdowne tina
four officers had been detached, tn
news Of which had already unofhciall