The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-11-04

London, November NEGOTIATIONS
etween Great Britain and Russia
looking to a settlement of the North
sea affair are progressing favorably
and there is not the slightest danger
OF n friction arising between the
two governments. The examination
of the international commission under
The Hague convention is on the verge
Of settlement.
In spite of thse pacific conditions
Great Britain today experienced a war
panic. Not for years have so many
alarmist reports and flaming extras
flooded London. The most e~xtraor-
binary feature of this scare is that
there was not one single circumstance
to justify it. The extreme started ear
~ in the day, when the newspapers
announced the departure of the Rus
sian Baltic squadron from Vigo. The
public were not in possession of the
information cabled by the. Associat-
GU ~ the oIIIled oldIeS t1dL
only the officers concerned in the fir
ing on the British trawlers would
be detached, and jumped at The con-
clusion that Russia had broken faith
by not OBTAINING the vessels involved
IN the affair. On top of this came
wild reports of tremendous activity
at Gibraltar. Hour by hour the news
from Gibraltar became more serious,
until at last the climax was reached
with the announcement that the Brit
ish feet had cleared for action. In
huge type the papers made the par
alIel statements The Russian fleet
has sailed'-.The British has cleared
for action" No newspaper and no
person seemed able to explain these
events.
The news from Gibraltar became
more and more alarmist. Ambassa-
dor Bonkendorff was quietly discuss
ing with Foreign Minister Lansdown
the personnel of the international
commission, but it was popularity
rumored that he was receiving an ulti-
matum.
Premier Balfour, Admiral Sir John
Fischer, COmmander-in-chief at
Portsmouth: Lord SeIberne, first lord
of the admiralty. n Prince Louis
of B~attenburg, director of naval in
~telligence, were all in conference, and
it was openly limited that they were
planning the first stroke of war. AS
q matter of fact they. like Lord Lans-
dOwne were engaged in considering
names hat had been suggested for
the international commission. When
all london was in this state of mind
the foreign office decided to adopt a
urs most unusual for it, and in
order TO allay the public excitement.
gave out to the press the following
statement
Before the Russian fleet left Vigo
instructions were given to the Rus
sian admiral with the view TO pre-
venting injury or inconvenience to
neutral shipping during the passage
CT the Russian fleet to h far east
I'm compliance with Russia's en-
gagement four Russian officers have
been left behind at Vigo.
1.-THE two governments are now dis
cussing the terms with reference to
the international commission which
will be entrusted with the proposed
inquiry
The foreign office is intensely irri-
Cated at the construction placed upon
what they declare must have been
mere fleet and garrison exercises. The
Associated Press is authorized to state
that no orders have been given the
huge fleet now concentrated at Gil
braltar TO make any preparations in
connection with the departure of Ad-
miral R~ojesvensky's squadron.