Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-26
BRITISH SHIPS SAIL
With Imperative Orders to
 Russian Cruisers.
TO STOP ALE NEUTRAL SIIZURES

Prime Minister BaIfOur Makes Extra
 ordinary Announcement to Lon-
 don Merchants Who Were Malx-
 ing Vigorous Protests.
 LONDON, Aug. 26.-Prime Minister Balfour announced last night that the British government had ordered two cruisers from the squadron at the Cape of Good Hope without delay to locate the Russian volunteer fleet steamers Smolensk and St. Petersburg and to convey to them the orders of the Russian government that they must not further interfere with neu- tral shipping. The premier stated that this action was taken at the request of the Russian government.
 This extraordinary statement was made when the premier by appoint ment received a deputation of the London chamber of commerce. The deputation was appointed at meet ing held earlier in the day by the Chi ma and East India section of the cham Der, which was attended by repre- sentative shipowners and others in- terested in trade in the far east and at which the following resolution was passed:
 tThis meeting of members of the London chamber of commerce concern ed in trade with the far east views with grave apprehension the continued uncertainty of the position of British trade and shipping with regard to what constitutes contraband of war as interpreted by the Russian govern ment The meeting trusts that his majesty's government will take such immediate and effective steps as will afford all reasonable protection to Brit ish shipping and insure to it the same degree of immunity from vexatious stoppages and examinations as is ap- parently enjoyed by shipping of other nationalities."
 Members of the deputation quoted the cases of the Portland and Asiatic line steamer Arabia and the British steamer Calchas. The former was al- lowed to proceed, while the latter was pointed out that both cases were equal so far as the nature of the cargoes was concerned. The cases of the Pen insular and Oriental company's steam or Malacca and the Hamburg American line steamer Scandia were also quoted. Each of these vessels had ammunition on board, but the Scandia was allowed to proceed. The deputation next re- ferred to the sinking of the British steamer Knight Commander and the German steamer Thea by the Yladivos- tok squadron and pointed out that comprehension had been paid In the case of the Thea, while 1t had not been even promised in that of the Knight Com mander. Members of the deputation also stated that 1t was notorious that shipments of contraband of war had been made from Antwerp and Ham burg, while insurance rates from those and from French ports were much low CT than from English ports.
 Premier Balfour in reply said that the government would take every pos sible step to end such disastrous state of things. The deputation must remember that belligerents had rights as well as neutrals, and the premier added:
 "We ourselves may have to appeal to LAS ldW OA AdLAoAS Co pEOLcCI OUK EABA1S as belligerents, and in the interests of our self preservation we may be obhg- ed to ignore the interests of neutral shippers engaged in the risky, though legitimate, operation of carrying con- traband of war"
 The premier appealed to the deputa- ton in the interest of themselves and of the world at large to view both sides of the question and to approach it in a spirit of moderation. .