The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-07-27
BALFOUR ASKS DELAY
Not Yet Ready TO Discuss RuSsia's
Acts on High Seas.
THE PUBLIC AGAIN AROUSED.

Sinking Of the Knight Commander In.
flames Popular Feeling, Which Had
Become ouieter With the Release Of
the Malacca and Ardova.
London. July 27.-- Premier Balfour,
replying to Il question in the house OF
commons in regard to the sinking Of
the British steamer Knight Command
err by the Russians off the coast Of
Japan, said inquiries were being made
on the subject, but be was not yet in
position to make statement.
Replying TO another question the
premier said the government was not
aware Of any convention concluded in
1901 between Turkey and Russia pro-
yiding special conditions for the pas
sage of the Dardanelles by special Rus
sian ships.
Mr. Balfour, while disciaining that
he was giving an authoritive decision,
said that he believed the declaration Of
Paris in 1856 contemplated the ADOLF
ton Of priyateering and tile declara-
ton that a neutral flag covers an enc
my's merchandise except when con.
trahand Of war Dealing with the
question Of whether the Russian volun-
teer vessels being private ships COM
missioned by the state were different
materially from privateers the premier
said that the whole question Of the
status Of the volunteer ships was now
under discussion between Great Britain
and Russia, and that it would not be
desirable to discuss that point ia the
house Of commons At present.
Regarding the suggestion that in
view Of Russia's reservations at Paris
In respect to priyateering and her re
cent commissioning Of the volunteer
ships. the British government would
consider the propriety Of denouncing
the declaration Of Paris and Of resery-
ing the right to capture during war
time an enemy's property carried
under a neutral flag Mr. Balfour said
lie could not hold out any hope that
Great Britain was going to make re
cent occurrences the occasion OF any
remonstrance To other powers upOn
that broader subject
Public Feeling intense.
The knight Commander incident Il
one which is attracting close official
and public interest, for tie reason that
in the British Official view 1t is one thing
to seize ship having contraband On
board and another to sink her without
proper legal inquiry to establish wheth
er She is 4 good prize.
The British authorities il japan hays
instituted an inquiry ana are obtaining
testimony which viii enable the British
government 70 make ND its case 1t Il
said III reliable quarter that Great
Britain VIII make earnest representa-
tons to Russia with the view Of Sc
curing PREPARATION ana 70 prevent inter
ference with neutral commerce such as
1t has been subjected 70 recently
While proposing to act herself Id be
half Of vessels lying her own flag
Great Rritain holds that II is time that
all neutrals should take some steps 10
protect neutral vessels and neutral
goods But the exchanges OF com
manications which have been going Oh
III this connection have not yet borne
fruit 1t is known that the United
States IS sufficiently interested ia the
fate OF the Knight Commander Il
make inquiries concerning her, but. se
far as the British government Is III
formed. no action has yet been taken
by the state department at Washing
ton.
A Russian diplomat said to a repre-
sentative Of the press that 1t would lie
unwise for the people Of the United
States or Great Britain to jump to the
conclusion TINT IN act Of wanton ia
struction had been committed by the
commander Of the Vladiyostok squad
ron. lie could not spare the time u
separate contraband from neutral
goods and dump the former overheard.
Circumstances compelled him 70 sink
the ship in order to prevent her from
carrying supplies to the japanese gov.
eminent II the Knight Commander
had neutral goods on board their own.
ers would certainly be compensated.
1t is known that Count Benskendorlf.
Russian ambassador to Great Britain.
has made II clear 70 the British foreign
secretary. Lord Lansdowne. that IN this
or amy other incident Of like char
acter If wrong is done BIZ Russian ships
the Russian government VIII make due
reparatoii.