The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-13


ing by Rear Admiral Goodrich, command
ing the Pacific squadron, kept things lively
In Washingto ton all day. There was hurried
conference this morning between acting
Secretary Of State Adee, Solicitor Penfield
OF the State Department and Capt Pills
bury, acting Chief OF the Bureau OF Naviga-
ton, Navy Department, Immediately fol-
lowing the receipt Of the telegram.
At the conclusion OF the conference 1t
was announced that the matter was local
and should be handled by the Collector Of
Customs at San Francisco, the Surveyor
Of that port and the United States District
Attorney for the San Francisco jurisdio-
ton.
This position did not remain long tenable,
however, for late this afternoon the State
Department, through the Department Of
Commerce and Labor, received despatch
from Collector Stratton stating that Kisa-
bura Uyeno, the Japanese Consul General at
San Francisco. had demanded that the
Lena leave the port within twenty-four
hours. Collector Strat tons telegram fol-
lows:
The Japanese Consul General has made a
demand upon me that the Russian auxiliary
cruiser Lena. which arrived at this port on
the 18th instant. leave within twenty-four
hours. Her captain reports that he entered
the port in order TO make necessary repairs
to his engines and boilers, principally the
latter. have requested the inspector Of
hulls and boilers to mako an examination
of the vessels machinery. with the consent
OF the Russian Consul and the commander
Of the Lena. can find no authority in law
OF regulations oonferring any authority on
me In the premises. and request that In.
suuctions be sent.
Collector Stratton's telegram was hur-
riedly sent to Acting Secretary Adee by
messenger, and, after a conference be-
tween Mr.. Adee and Solicitor Penfield, the
result Of which was communicated to Acting
Secretary Murray Of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor, the following de-
spatch, signed by the latter, was sent to
Mr.. Stratton:
RoosEvBLT's PROCLAMATION INVOKED.
Your telegram addressed TO the Secretary
OF the Treasury. concerning the Lena. was
received at 4as You should have addressed
this Department. as directed In Circular 20.
Wire this Department tho hour Of steamers
arrival at your port and a concise resume
OF steamboat inspector 'sreport. and. II repairs
are necessary. the probable time required to
complete them. II further particulars are
desired. you will be instructed further. See
Circular 20. end Of page and all Of page 8.
The Circular 20" referred to Is the Presi-
dents neutrality proclamation, issued at
the beginning Of hostilities between Russia
and Japan, and In view Of the present situa-
ton at San Francisco with regard to the
Lena, one Of Its paragraphs Ia interest
ing. The proclamation says in part:
II any ship Of war or -privatecr Of either
beli gerent shall. after the time this notifca-
ton takes effect, enter any port harbor.
roadstead, or waters OF the United States.
such vessel shall be required 70 depart and put
to sea within twenty-four hours after her
entrance into such port except In
provisions or things necessary for the sub.
sistence Of her crew. or for repairs. in eithet
of which cases the authorities Of the port shall
require her to put to sea a. soon as possible
after the expiration OF such period OF twenty
four hours, without permitting her TO take
In supplies beyond what may be necessary
for her immediate use; and no such vessel
which may have been permitted to remain
within the waters Of the United States for
the purpose Of repair shall continue within
such port for longer period
than twenty-four hours after her necessary
repairs shall have been completed.
This proclamation, as is evident, gives
the local authorities OF the port the dis
erection to say just what time 10 necessary
for repairs to q belligerent vessel, and
Just when that vessel shall leave. In the
present case, however, 1t Is very evident
that Collector Stratton and his colleagues,
the Surveyor of the Port and the United
States Attorney, are not anxious to assume
the responsibility for this decision, and
desire the State Department to take the
matter in hand. Even withou, the protest
OF the Japanese Consul General the State
Department would OF course have advised
Collector Stratton as to every move he
might make in the situation, but the protest
changes the matter entirely and makes
the State Department play an open hand.
SHANGHAI INCIDENT REPEATED.
The Lena case bids fair TO be rspeti-
ton of the Shanghai incident without, OF
course, the possibility Of clash between
the naval forces Of the belligerent Powers,
such as was imminent at the Chinese port
for 80 long. The incident, however, does
not lose In importance through that lack
OF the dramatic element
The fact Of the matter Ii that the Lena
incident has brought the United States
closer than IL has ever been before during
the period OF present hostilities in the Far
East to the borders Of the zone Of personal
ational interests, and 1t IL not too much
to say that officials Of the State Department,
and, in fact, high officials Of the Govern
ment generally. deeply and sincerely re-
gret the fact.
In case such az the Lena incident bids
fair to be. It will be practically impossible
for the United States to render a decision
as to the period which the Russ ian vessel
may spend In the nettral waters Of San
Francisco harbor that will be satisfactory
to both belgerents. The Japanese Consul
General has fled protest. 1t is too much
to hope that the Russian Con suit General
will not make representations on the subject
Of the Lena before many hours have passed,
and the Shanghai incident, with all Of Its
Importance, but shorn OF It's dramatic
will practically be duplicated at
San Francisco.
Not, Of course, that matters viii 60 80
Tar. But the United States, up to the
present time. in the opinion Of those who
know, has managed to keep aloof from
even the outer edges Of the Far Eastern
storm, and IL Is not desired that the present
'riendly rclations between this Govern