The Billings gazette., 1904-11-01
new ELEMENT IS INJECTED
Uncertainty AS to Attitude of France
Strong Factor in Favor OF
Peace.


ton of the battleship Caesar, will
steam westward tomorrow with the
alleged purpose of making sham at
tack against the Rock OF Gibraltar.
Several torpedo boats left Tangier
this afternoon fully equipped.
Work at the arsenal is proceeding
under high pressure.
A division of the Mediterranean
fleet, composed of six battleships, all
the armored cruisers and 20 torpedo
boats, is expected to arrive here to-
morrow.
London, Oct. 27.-One OF the most
complicated diplomatic situations in
recent history, and one that is at
tended with the most dangerous possi-
bilities for the peace OF Europe, exists
tonight, with no sign OF immediate
solution The tension that arose when
the dispute between Great Britain and
Russia resolved itself into the simple
question whether Russia would or
would not guarantee in advance that
some punishment should be admins
tered to the offending officers OF the
Baltic squadron has been modified by
the introduction OF an entirely new
set of conditions contained in Rojest-
venskys report.
War May Be Avoided.
However, there is tonight at the
embassies OF the powers not concern
ed in the dispute very strong senti-
ment that a way out will be found
other than recourse to war.
The foreign office, apparently as
puzzled as the onlooKers, pursues the
policy OF silence, and the British
press is almost totally uniformed.
The voluminous exchanges between
London and st. Petersburg continue.
and the statement that nothing from
Russia has been received adds to the
implication that Russia is ignoring
the British negotiations. 1t is this
misconception which is chiefly re-
sponsible for the stirring up OF pop
ular agitation against which the gov
ernment may find it hard to stand out
in the possible event OF Foreign Min
lister Lansdowne withdrawing the de
mand that Russia guarantee punish.
ment before inquiry is instituted.
Upset AdmraI's Report
Had Admiral Rojestvensky's report
not arrived, it is probable the dispute
would have been settled one way or
another tonight.
In the present temper OF the Brit
ish nation it is not at all likely tha;
preparations for hostilities will be re
laxed, or that the popular outcry vii
be diminished by Admiral Rojest
vensky's report, but it is understood
that Great Britain would run the rlsi
OF forfeiting in some degree the goot
will of France, and certainly that o.
Germany, if she proceeded to substl
tute warlike for diplomatic steps, o
which it is said at the Russian EN-
bassy tonight there is no indication II
Lord Lansdowne's communication.
Attitude Of France.
The attitude of France is held t
be of the first Importance. 1t wa
said today by representatives OF an
other great power that if France ha
given definite assurances that sh
would not support Russia in the even
OF war growing out OF the North Sc
incident, hostile issue would be a
most inevitable, as the disposition t
crush the Russian naval power ate
such provocation could scarcely hav
been refused by England. 1t is poln
ed out that it is greatly to France
interest to preserve peace, and ne
efforts in that direction obviously wi
he STRENGTHENED by not committin
herself except at the last moment. S
long as Great Britain is not sur
whether France will help Russia, sh
will not be likely to engage in war.
The most probable solution OF tn
rumors regarding Frances positio
is said by high authority that she ha
given both disputants to understan
that she does not desire to become il
volved, but has reserved her final d
cision.
ExpIodes Rojestvensky's Dream.
Baron Hayashi, the Japanese mi
lister, regarding Admiral Rojestye
skys report, again reiterates h
statement that is was impossible tn
any Japanese torpedo boats could