The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-20
Is Filed by the British Embas-
sador at st. Petersburg
Against Seizure of Shipping in
the Red Sea.
PUBLIC is EXCITED.
Openly Suggested That Russia's
Action Was Premeditated.
French Officials Believe the Gar
Will Back Down.

st. Petersburg, July 20.-6:30 p. n1--
Sir Charles Hardinge, the British am
bassador to Russia, this afternoon in
behalf of his government, presented a
strong protest to Russia against the
seizure in the Red sea and detention of
the Peninsular and Oriental steamer
Malacca, which was carrying three
hundred tons of British government
stores for the naval establishment at
Hong Kong, each case of which was
marked with the broad arrow, which is
the government stamp.
The ambassador also presented a
general protest against the action of
the Russian volunteer fleet steamers in
the Red sea.
| Russia seems prepared for any rep
reservations Great Britain may make
on the subject of stopping ships in the
1 Red sea. 1t is understood that before
sending the cruisers there the Russian
authorities became satisfied through an
elaborate system of espionage that an
immense amount of contraband was
going from England through the Red
sea to Japan and they decided to stop
the traffic. 1t is understood that if
this traffic is now diverted, to the cape
route the Russian admiralty is prepared
to send ships to the Cape of Good Hope.
If Great Britain objects to the pas
sage of the Dardanelles by more vessels
of the volunteer fleet the ships intended
for cruising off the cape may be sent
from the Baltic.
In this connection very important de-
velopments are believed to be immi-
nent.
British Mind Infamed.
London, July 20.-The further details
received from Port Said today describ-
ing the situation on board the steamer
Malacca, fail to give any reason for the
seizure and only serve to inf1ame the
British feeling. The officials of the
company reiterate their denial that the
Malacca was carrying contraband OF
war and reaSSert that the explosives on
board were British government stores,
consigned to the naval commander at
Hong Kong.
In official circles apprehension is felt
at the increasing excitement in the
country. There is no likelihood, how
ever. of any precipitate action. 1t is
officially pointed out that the very full
est information must be obtained be-
fore the government decides on its
course.
In the meantime and until there is
direct and explicit evidence of a con-
travention of neutrality by the Malac-
ca and the assumption by the Russian
government of full responsibility for
the action of the commanders of the
Smolensk and ST. Petersburg, the Brit
ish government, it is explained, can
only ask explanations of the Russian
foreign office regarding the nature of
the charges against the seized vessel.
Subsequent action necessarily will de-
pend on Russia's reply thereto.
The talk of policing the Red sea by
British warships meets with no support
in official quarters where it is pointed
out that the commander of a warship
would have to satisfy himself that
merchant ship desiring convoy was not
contravening the neutrality regulations.
If the commander was satisfied in this
respect there would be no necessity for
protecting the ship. If he did not re-
ceive satisfactory assurances he would
have no right to convoy the vessel.
The editorials continue to be heated
and it is openly suggested that Rus
sia's action was premeditated.
Believed Russia Will Back Down.
Paris, July 30.-Information reaching
government quarters here leads the Of
ficials to believe that Russia will re-
lease the British and German mer-
chantmen seized in the Red sea as
means of averting international COM
DIicatiOQS.