The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-11-03

Alav Tumult-Negotiatio to Set
tie North Sea Incident Progressing
ravorabIy. with Not the Slightest
Danger Of Friction.
London SO, o. Negotiations be
tween Great Britain and Russia look
jns to settlement of the North Sea
affair are progressing iavorably and
tncrc is NOT the slightest danger Of any
friction arising between the two gov
crnnents Th constitution OF the IN
tornatonal commission under The
HAGUE convention is on the verge Of
settlement
I'm spite of these pacific conditions
that can only Doc compared to the panic
that can only Dee compared to th epanic
created ON SUNDAY October 23. when
the news of the sinking Of the tra"lerS
i'm the North Sea was received. Not FOR
years have SD many alarmist reports
and flaming extras flooded London.
The most extraordinary feature OF TINS
scare which Was serious ouoush WINE
il lasted s that there was not one SIN
gle circumstance to Justify IT, the eA-
element started when the newspapers
announced thc departure of the kus-
sian Bali, squadron from Nico. The
r1bIi, we're NOT I'm possession of the IN
formation cahlcd by The Associated
Press to The United states that only the
officers concerned in the firing on the
British trawlcrs would be detached.
and jumped at fhe conclusion that Rus
-ia had broken faith los NOT OBTAINING
the vessels involved In the AFFAIR ON
top of this came Wild reports OF tire
mcndnus activity at Gibraltar Hour by
hour fhc news from Gibraltar became
more serious unui $40 last the climax
was reached with the announcement
that tho British fleet had cleared Tor
action Some ,yen said the fleet had
sailed to meet Roicstyensky squad
ron. 10 huge type the papers made the
parallel statements The Russian
fleet has sailed The British ieel
has cleared for action No newspaper
and mo- person seemed abb" to explain
these events The roassuring informa-
ton available in the United states
that the sailing of The Baltic squadron
from Nieo was with the knowledge Of
and aerccsh.. to tine British govern
riout vas NOT even hinfed at by the
papers here
The nows from Gibraltar became
more and more alarmist and finally
the far.i-u Office was oyerrun b. re-
porirr~ some of whom brought the
rumor that admiral Beresford had al
ready sunk The remnant Of Admiral
Poiestyauskvs fleet Ambassador
Benkoudorn at that moment was
oniouv discussing with Foreign Minis
t.r lansdownc che personnel Of the
international commission but il was
nonularIy rumored that Dc was receiy-
ing am ri-imawm Premier Balfour
Admiral Sir John Fisher commander
in-chiof at Portsmouth. Lord Selborne
first lord o. thc admiralty. and Prince
Louis of Battonhurg director Of naval
+ infouieouce. were ali in conference. and
f IL was openly limited that they We're
PLANNING the first stroke Of war. As
matter OF fact they like Lord lans-
downe were engaged in considering
names that had been suggested for the
international commission When all
+ London was i'm this state Of mind. and
while everybody who might be sup
posed 10 know anything was constant
/ IS being asked Has war been de-
/ clarodo" the foreign office decided 10
adopt a course most unusual for II. and
I'm order 10 alay thc public excitement.
gave ont 10 the press the following
statement
Before the Russian feet left Vieo
instructions were given TO the Russian
admiral with the view to preventing
injury or inconvenience to neutral
shipping during the passage OF the
Russian Get 10 the Far East
In compliance with Russia's en-
I adEfilifI's lUUl lAiirHitlil JIM if' ~
been left behind an NigO.
"The Two governments are now DIS
cussine the terms with reference to
the international commission which
will be entrusted with the proposed in
Quiry.'
The furore would be ludicrous e1-
cept for the striking insistence 1t has
afforded OF the willingness Of the Brit
ish public to believe that almost any
development is possible after the North
Sea affair, and for the enthusiasm pro-
duced by Gihraltar's warlke news. The
foreign Office is intensely irritated at
the construction placed upon what they
declare must have been mere fleet ano
garrison exercises. The Associated
Press is authorized 10 state that nc
orders have been given the huge nee'
now concentrated at Gibraltar TO make
any preparations i'm connection with
the departure OF Admiral Roiestvens-