The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-29
Diplomats Get Together and
Agree on Plan
SUBMIT IT TO ARBITRATION
British Public Is Still Wrought Up and
Roiestvensky Still Claims Tor
pedo Boats Fired Upon
His Fleet.

London, OCTOBER ZJ.-All danger OF war
between Russia and Great Britain has
been averted and the settlement of the
only points in dispute regarding the at
tack by the Russian second Pacific squad
ron on British trawlers, October p, has
been referred to an international COM
mission under The Hague convention.
Premier Balfour, speaking at a meeting
cf the National Union of Conservative
clubs at southampton tonight brols
the silence which had been SO long pre-
served and Lad brought the people of the
United Kingdom to a condition of almost
desperate irritation and given rise to mis-
conceptions which Mr.. Balfour himself
tonight exposed.
"The Russian ambassador" said Mr..
Balfour, has authorized a statement to
The following effect:
Expressed Profound Regret.
"The Russian government on hearing of
the North sea incident, at once expressed
its profound regret, and also promised
most liberal compensation. The govern
ment has ordered the detention at Vigo
of that part OF the fleet which was con-
cerned in the incident, in order that the
naval authorities might ascertain what
officers were responsible for it; that
these officers and any material witnesses
would not proceed on the voyage to the
far east; that inquiry would be insti-
tuted into the facts by an international
commission as provided by The Hague
convention. That, Mr.. Balfour interpo-
lated had nothing to do with arbitration;
it was the constitution of an internation-
al commission in order to free the facts,
and any person found guilty would be
tried and punished in equality The Rus
sian government undertook that precau-
tions would be taken to guard against re-
currenee of such incidents. Special in
struetions cn this subject would be IS
sued.
Preliminary to this court, said Mr.. Bal
four, there would be the coroner's in
quest at Hull over the dead fishermen,
a board of trade inquiry, and an inquiry
by Russian officials at Yigo.
Includes Representative Men.
The board of trade inquiry would be
specially constituted by the British gov
ernment to include representative men.
The Russian embassy has been asked to
send a representative, and give assist
ance Apology and compensation having
already been offered nothing remains but
to determine which account is correct,
Rojestvensky or the trawlers Mr.. Bal
four plainly said that Thursday evening
Russia and Great Britain seemed on the
brink of war, and yet gave the frankest
praise to the attitude preserved through
out by the emperor Russian govern
ment. While the premier was unable to
praise the pacific attitude of the govern
ment too highly, he bitterly assailed
Rojestvensky's report declaring that 1t
was an insult to Great Britain as a neu-
tral nation, and .ridiculed its probability.
The immense audience received Mr.. Bal
fours announcement of the settlement of
the affair with unbounded enthusiasm,
which was echoed throughout the king
dom when the evening extras appeared
and set suspense at rest.
Was an EventfuI Day.
Today was an eventful one in the me-
tropolis The population stirred by far
ing headlines the morning papers,
seemed convinced that war was inevita-
Bile. The cabinet meeting which was held
at noon served to increase rather than
allay anxiety. Throughout the country
there had spread a deep-rooted though
perfectly erroneous idea that Great Brit
ain had given Russia a time limit in
limit in which to reply, and Charley"
Beresford, England's naval idol, was on
the spot.
Many indeed thought it was only a
question of hours when he would be de-
molishing Russian ships. Without the
least national desire for war, a great
naval excitement had been worked up. In
the streets tonight many expressions of
disappointment might be heard because
the crisis had not developed into hostili-
ties. This merely voiced the opinion of
the thoughtless which comprised con-
siderable section of the public. No fur
ther difficulties are expected
Foreign Minister Lansdowne and Am
bassador Benckendorff probably will be
able to decide the constitution of the in
ternational commission, and its date of
sitting. In view of the circumstances
neither Japan nor Spain are likely to
object to the temporary prolongation of
the stay of the section of the second Pa
cifc squadron at Vigo, and the inquiry
will be expedited as much as possible
Ambassador Has Been Busy.
Ambassador Benckendorff who had
been working day and night expressed
great pleasure over the result, which he
considered honorable to both nations. I'm
til Premier Balfour spoke the ambassa
dor said he was bound to silence. and
hence much misinformation had pervaded
the British press which had reiterated
the statement that Russia had given no
reply to the British note. Only this morn
ing, he said, the placards of The Times
and Daily Telegraph had flared through
London, "Still no reply totally ignor-
ing the fact that the Russian govern
ment's reply had been announced by the
Associated Press early in the week, as
was confirmed by Premier Balfour to-
night While all this furore was going on
chiefly owing to the public belief that
Russia had refused to apologize, dplo-
matte negotiations had been proceeding
smoothly.
On the authority of Count Benckendorff
it can be stated that never at any time
did Foreign Minister Lansdowne express
the belief that pacific settlement was
not attainabe. or endeavor to secure a
settlement by yelled menace.
"I know, however / could not help
knowing, said the ambassador. that
there was a British fleet at Gibraltar. II
Cur EaAt had left Vigo it would probably
have been war, but now all there is well
There is only one danger, namely. the
excitement of public opinion. To be pre-
(continued on Second Paqe)