Evening journal., 1904-10-29

London, oct 29-All danger Of war
between Russian and Great Britain
has been averted. and the settlement
Of the only points in dispute regard
Ing the attack of the Second Pacific
squadron on British trawlers October
u has been referred to an internation-
4 commission under The Hague con-
rention.
Premier Balfour, speaking at a meet
ng OF the National Union of Conserv-
ltive Clubs at Southampton, broke
hat silence which had been so long
reserved and had brought the people
y the United Kingdom to a condi-
ion Of almost desperate irritation and
iyen rise to misconceptions. which
n raliour himself exposed.
THE Russian ambassador. said
dr Balfour. has authorized a state
mont TO the following effect: The Rus
ian government. on hearing of the
'orth Sea incident. at once expressed
profound regret, and also promised
est liberal compensation. The gov
mmcnt has ordered the detention at
iSo of that part Of the fleet which
as concerned in the incident. in or
that the naval authorities might
'Certain what officers were RESPONSE
.e fer Il; that those officers and any
latcrial witnesses would not proceed
the voyage to the Far East; that
inquiry would be instituted into the
acts by an international commission
IS provided by The Hague conyen-
'on.
That. Mr. Balfour interpolated, had
loth!ng to do with arbitration; it was
nc constitution Of the international
commission in order to find out the
facts. and any person found guilty
would be tried and punished ado
quately. The Russian government un-
dcrtook that precautions would be
taken TO guard against recurrence of
such INCIDENTS. Special instructions
on this subject would be issued.
The asccrtainment OF the facts for
submission to a commission formed
iader the rules of The Hague peace
onferc1ce win be through the coro
nor's inquest at Hull an investigation
by the British board of trade, and the
examination Of the officers Of the Rus
sian ships which fired upon the fisher
men.
Apology and compensation having
already hecn offered nothing now re-
mains but to determine which account
Is correct, RojesivsnclSy's or the traw-
ler9. Mr.. Balrour plainly said that
ON Thursday evening Russia and
Great Britain seemed to be on the
brink Of war. and yet gave the frank
est praise TO the attitude preserved
throughout by the emperor and Rus
sian government While the premier
was unable to praise the pacific at,i-
tude Of the government too highly,
he bitterly assailed Rojestvensky's re-
port. declaring that II was an insult
to Great Britain as a neutral nation
and ridiculed its probability.
Continuing. Mr.. Balfour said: "The
only version we had on Monday of the
lamentable incidents of the previous
Friday was the version supplied us by
the trawlers. Thursday morning the
situation changed, because for the first
time we had the counter story. sup
piled by the Russian admiral. In the
rtory of our fishermen there was much
tragedy. but no romance. In the story
of the Russian admiral there is no ira
eedy. but J am driven to the belief that
there is much romance. Il is impossi-
BILE to doubt which is the correct story
I should not have approached it but
for the fact that the adm.rals story is
really an attack upon our national
honor and implies that we are not do
ing our duty as neutrals. In an island
kingdom like Great Britain the nation
ality Of every craft is known. II is in
conceivable that we could be harbor.
Ing Japanese sailors and warship'
4 without Russia, and, indeed, the whole
/ civilized world knowing It. / enter 8
most emphatic protest against such az
nllegauon The truth will be made
manifest and clear as MONDAY wher
the inquiry is held. which in mos
statesmanlike manner has been wei
coined by the czar. But in bare iustic,
TO the czar and the Russian govern
ment I will say they never at any tim,
underestimate the gravity of the cri
sis or failed to do what they could t
diminish A.
zone difficulty over the outrage wal
that the Russian admiral has a theor,
OF the rights and dutiesof a benigeren
fleet as against neutrals which woul
really make the high seas a place @
public danger. Suppose some dar
night a liner or transport fell in wit
the second Pacific feet at Gihralta
when they had intended to divide. an
approached within the magic distanc
according TO the admirals theory
would be justified in sinking It, III
position is one impossible for neutra
70 tolerate. A fleet animated by tn
5 policy would be a feet which Won
have TO be eliminated out Of existen
u il civilized commerce was to pursue
way unimpeded."
The premier said # was incredih
= that a fishing fleet could be engaged
4 hostile operation and ridiculed the i'd