The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-20
RUSSIA STANDS FIRM.
No Apology to Make for Seizures i'm
the Red Sea.

st. Petersburg, July 20.-The Russ to-
day publishes an editorial statement of
Russia's position relative to the stop
ping of neutral ships in the Red sea by
vessels of the volunteer fleet There is
great interest in the statement because
At is believed to reflect directly the
views of the foreign office 1t follows:
THE operations OF the converted
cruisers Smolensk and St Petersburg
are causing tremendous excitement IN
England. Questions are being asked in
parliament, the newspapers are appeal
ing to the public and there is panic
among ship owners. There also is a
good deal of talk in Germany because
of the seizure of the mails on the
steamer Prinz Heinrich, but the most
noise there is being made by extremists
organss> the others treating the matter
coolly. 1t is a pity the English do not
display the same Teutonic calmness.
1T is easy to understand that the
British merchant marine feels the re-
@trictions severely. AS a result of the
stopping and searching OF vessels, Eng
Hsh ships either must give up trans
porting contraband or continue at their
own risk and peril in time of war be-
tween two powers Others are oounn
10 suffer more or less, as it is imposs1-
bic to check contraband traffic without
search.
I'm regard to the detention of the
Prinz Heirrich's mails, details have not
yet reached st. Petersburg. Compre-
hensive discussion of this incident is,
therefore impossible, but it must be
pointed out. the official correspondence
Of a belligerent is contraband. Conse-
Quently, if the Prinz Heinrich carried
Japanese diplomatic and Consular re
ports she was liable to seizure. OF
course whether she did or did not, cor
reSpOndenCe can be inspected TO deter
mine this fact
I. .-The English in their excitement even
raised the question as to whether We
were justified in converting the volun-
so Haaf ST yFarShiDS after
they had passed the Dardahelles under
the commercial flag. This is strange
Every government has a right either to
build warShips in its own yards, or de-
liver them abroad, buy them already
built and finally to convert merchant
vessels into war ships. The volunteer
feet. at its very inception was intend
ed to be converted into a military fleet
upon the declaration of war.
The English should not feel incensed
over the passage of the St. Petersburg
and Smolensk through the Dardanelles-
The British embassy at Constant1nople
hands in a protest to the Turkish gov
eminent every time a volunteer fleet
vessel passes the straits.
For many years these protests have
been entirely disregarded, and there
fore. long ago lost their Importance.
Before the war, the Dardanelles was
repeatedly passed by volunteer ships on
the way to the far east. even with
troops, arms and munitions abroad. If
this were possible before the war it is
possible now as there has been no
change in our relations with Turkey |
as a result of the war with Japanese.
when the St. Petersburg and Smo- |
lensk passed through the straits under |
the merchant flag their destination was
correctly given as being the far east. |
In fact the vessels upon entering the |
Red sea armed and hoisted the mill |
tary flag.
"A fundamental principle of interna-
tional law that a neutral flag covers /
mill Of he vi
cargoes aboard the ships of neutral |
powers containing no contraband Of
war will remain as free as ever"