The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-31

~. PETERSBURG. Oct. 30.-The
y world will doubtless take particular
satisfaction in according Emperor
Nicholas, to whose initiative The
Hague convention owed its existence.
the honor and credit of having pro-
posed an honorable solution of the
North sea incident which might have
plunged Russia and Great Britain into
war by an appeal TO its rules. Never
theless the press learns on very high
authority that this diplomatic triumph
belongs 10 NJ. Delcasse. the French
foreign minister. When the yellow
book of France and the blue book of
Great Britain covering this incident
are issued some very interesting diplo-
matte history will be disclosed. The
great gravity of the situation. especial
ly in Great Britain where the inflamed
state of public opinion might at any
moment have driven the government to
extreme measures, and the danger in
Nolved in delay We're keenly appreci-
ated in the French capital Frances
stake is almost equal to that of the
parties directly interested. and the very
peace of the republic was involved. as
q rupture between Great Britain and
Russia, eventuating in war by putting
or making common cause against Rus
STA, would inevitably result i'm an APP
peal to France TO fulfil her obligations
under the dual alliance. NJ. Delcasse
therefore at the very outset went ear
nestly to work as a friend of both
countries to find an equitable basis of
adjustment.
Opportunity of France.
The opportunity came when Admiral
RoJestvensky's report raised a direct
issue of fact. According to the Asso-
clated Press informant. NJ. Delcasse at
once suggested an inquiry to establish
The facts through an international COM
mission under The Hague convention.
offering the suggestion simultaneously
10 both governments. through Ambas-
Sador CambOn 10 Foreign Minister
LansdOwne. and through Secretary
Boutleron, in Ambassador Bompard's
absence, to Count Lamsdorff The idea
found instaITt favor both here and i'm
London. and Thursday night the Rus
san and British propositions. Identical
IN effect. actually crossed each other
on the way 10 the respective CAPITALS
There was. however. this difference be-
tween them: Lord Lansdowne's in
EtructiOns to Ambassador Hardinge au-
thorizec him to submit the proposition
on behalf of the British government,
AA'i1eiS AOuilL ISdlnSuOlIIS instruct
lions were tentative and rather i'm the
nature of a feeler. as Count Lamsdorff
although he knew the emperor was IA
Norable to the plan, had not secured
the absolute consent of his majesty. to
whom he arranged TO submit the mat
ter finally on Friday afternoon In the
meantime. on Friday morning the
British proposition duly reached the
foreign minister at Tsarakoe- Selo. and
Friday afternoon the emperor gave his
hearty approval.
Remained Unanswered.
The British proposition. presented
earlier in the day remained unan-
swered. Exactly what transDired i'm
London when Ambassador .Benkendorff
presented the Russian proposition i'm
the name of Emperor Nicholas is not
known except that Foreign Minister
IanSdoWne did not insist uDon the
question of precedence, approaching.
doubtless. that Russia. being figura-
lively the offending party. had the bet
Ter right 10 offer TO submit the deter
1uination Of the facts to an imnarf iaI
tribunal The emperor's proposition.
settling tho matter in principle, was
therefore accepted, and the same even
ing Count Benkendorff telegraphed
Foreign Minister LamSdorfr.