Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05
Agrees to Draft Of the Anglo
Russian Convention.
COVERS SIX ARTICLES
COMMISSION WILL SIT IN PARIS
AND CONSIST OF FIVE.
st. Petersburg Version of Incident
Shows It Calculated and Based
Upon Suspicion.

p.m.-Russia has accepted the Geographic
draft of the Anglo-Russian convention FOR
the commission of inquiry into the North
sea incident. submitted to Russia Wednes-
day. as announced in these dispatches at
the time, and the final exchanges will be
ratified in London.
The convention covers six articles, as pre-
viously forecasted from here. The commits
sion will sit In Paris and will consist of five
members, Russian. British. American and
French, the representatives of these four
nations to choose the fifth member. Broad
outlines for the inquiry are laid down by
the convention, but the commission will
have wide latitude in determining all the
relevant facts. Although the convention is
agreed to, 1t is believed that some minor
matters connected with the subject. the ex-
act nature of which cannot be ascertained,
are still undecided.
The Associated Press has strong reason
to believe that the letter from Vigo pub
lished in the Novoe Vremya this morning,
represents practically the substance of Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky's detailed report sub
mftted to Emperor Nicholas today by Capt.
Clado. Indeed it is almost certain that the
letter was written by Capt. Clado himself.
1t has attracted much attention, being ac-
cepted by the public as well as by the No
voc Vremya as the complete Russian YER
SiOii VI eliC ASOA III Sed lIClOeHL. commenting
editorially on the letter the Novoe Vremya
declares 1t shows 1t was not case of panic
nor the misleading of signals, but of cool
calculation of the time for the arrival of
the torpedo boats after they were sighted
by the Russian transport Kamtchatka. The
Novoe Vremya says the commission will
nave an opportunity of seeing the wireless
messages on the subject
-Four points of the Russian case as pre-
sented simultaneously by special dspa tches
IRON Parls to two papers here, which bear
evidence that they came from inspired
sources, are follows:
1. Information which reached Vice Ad-
mlral RoJestvensky as he was leaving DAN
lsh waters showed that suspicious vessels
were in the North Sea, navigating first
CEder one nag and then under another.
=. The transport Kamtchatka's report by
wireless telegraphy, some time before the
incident occurred. that she had seen two
torpedo boats the Kamtchatka being then
thirty miles behind the squadron).
B. Later the receipt of a suspicious wire
less message signed tKamtchatka," asking
for the exact latitude and longitude of the
squadron. a message which it was after
ward ascertained was never sent by the
Kamtchatka. --rs III -
L. Then the appearance of two torpedo
boats alongside the squadron, which could
not have been Russian, as all the Russian
torpedo boats Were;Lthen In the English
channel The squadron did not fire until
the torpedo boats were seen.
The fact that only seven torpedo boats
are now with the sanadron. whereas eight
left Libau is explained by the fact that one
of them broke down before the squadron
left Danish waters and was lowed back to
Libau by the Russian ice breaker Ermak.
The reports of British warships, following
up the various divisions of the Russian
squadron are creating discussion here. The
Sviet says: .ssss >,qf--.-s5 iaalN
"The shadowing OF. the Russian squadron
by British cruisers cannot go on. u This
game must be stopped, and the sooner the
better .g=5. rltFr44 ~ ~ .i'
The terms of the Anglo-Russian conven-
ton agreement on the constitution of the
commission, described. by articles nine
to fourteen of The Hague peace convention,
to investigate the North sea Incident, are
as follows:
Firstly-The commission is to consist of
FIVE members, namely. officers of Great
Britain, Russia. the United States and
France these to select a fifth. If they can
not agree upon choice the selection is to
lie intrusted to the sovereign of some coun-
try to be chosen by Great Britain and Rus
STA.
Secondly-The commission to report on all
the circumstances relating to the disaster
and to establish the responsibility.
Thirdly-The commission to have the pow
er to settle all questions Of procedure.
Fourthly-The parties to bind themselves
to supply the commission with all the
necessary information, facilities, etc.
Fifthly-The commission to meet in Paris
as soon possible after the signature
Sixthly-The report of the commission to
be officially communicated to the respective
governments
Provisions are to be added regarding the
assessors and agents expenses, decision
to be reached by a majority, ETC.
1t is expected that the commission will
assemble in about fortnight. The greatest
satisfaction prevails at the foreign office at
the complete agreement reached and firm
hope is expressed that the American adj
miral to be selected by the United States
to sit on the commission will prove an i'm
partial judge of the facts submitted.
No Statement From London.
LONDON, November $3.50 p.m.-The
British foreign Office has received through
Ambassador Hardinge Russia's acceptance
of the telegraphic summary of the Anglo
Russian convention, but it states that as
several details remain to be settled 1t is
not in position to make any statement
today.