New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-28
FIRM BRITISH DEMANDS
NOTE SENT TO RUSSIA.
4 Hint of Threat-Homse Defence
Committee Meets.

,ton Of the note TO the Russian government the
..+ssr secrecy will be maintained regarding
=. ,-onrents but II is lInas0n that Premier Bal
s,,,r and his colleagues have decided TO demand
va rfle fullest reparation shall be made by
z7,ssfa or measures Viii be taken 10 follow up
the diplomatic demands
~ Bri-lsh note which Sir Charles Hardinge
-4u submit viii not mention the amount Of in
a.-,,i-y Russia must pay the owners of the ship
ors British subjects having goods on board the
CSC bvr all thar VIII be sought will be the
.--arl,sh-,ent OF the principle OF indemnity and
.,,ory \ salute OF the British flag must also
:. .orcsse6 and the future protection Of neu-
.ral shipping assured
The attitude OF the British government is the
sa,,l. o. the thorough consideration given to the
-sro-rs received from Sir Claude H Macdonald.
81 british Minister at Toxic. and the opinions
q errer-s IN International law. The dispatches
.-oro Sir Claude u. Macdonald confirm the re-
,,o-rs that the knight Commander had no con-
--aba,d of war on board for Japan. The gov
.-r-7snt anG all the British authorities. Il is
rs-+ad mite or the point that there
justification for the sinking OF the vessel.
It's felt in government circles that the Knight
Commander incident overshadows the Red Sea
seizures which practically have been adjusted.
but which have failed 10 settle the question
OF the rights Of neutral commerce.
PROMPT RUSSIAN REPLY UNLIKELY.
In the light Of the declaration Of the Russian
government respecting contraband Of war, made
three weeks after hostiliries began. no repre-
sensations have been made by Count Bencken-
dor@- the Russian Ambassador 10 Great Britain,
20 the Foreign Secretary. Lord Lansdowne re-
garding the knight Commander the Anbassa-
cor not having received advices from ST Peters
burg on the subject nor is it seen by the Rus
sian diplomats how II is possible for their gov
eminent 70 make prompt answer 10 the British
demands It is not known when the Tladivostok
squadron viii return 10 port. The commander
Of the squadron. II is pointed out unquestiona-
bly, seized the papers Of the vessel including her
manifest, and therefore viii be able 10 present
reasons to show why he sank the ship.
With these reasons IN their possession the
Russian authorities viii be able 10 complete
their answer 10 the British representations. In
the opinion Of these diplomats the cargo, or at
least part OF the cargo OF the knight Com
rnander, included contraband OF war under the
Russian declaration The bridgework among the
cargo is said 10 have been destined for the
Fusan-Seoul railroad, which the japanese are
building for military purposes. The Russian
declaration also announced that rice and other
foodstuffs are contraband II sent at the eneny's
cost or order.
Attention IS specifically called 10 the feature
OF the declaration saying that neutral ships
with contrahand Of war Of any sort can. accord
ing TO circumstances. be not only seized. but
also eonhscated." II the ship can be confscated.
II is contended, she can be sunk as well
RUSSIAN RULES NOT ACCEPTED
While Russia holds that her declaration has
never been seriously questioned. the British au-
rhorities say that the British Ambassador at ST.
Petersburg first specifically reserved the rights
oS his government IN case Of an emergency
arising. and, later. fled objections against va
rious provisions OF the declaration
The United States also reserved her rights
when acknowledging the receipt Of the Russian
declaration. The British authorities are per
sistent in their desire 10 induce the United
States 10 make a declaration n respect 70 the
policy IL intends 10 pursue IN the matter Of the
protection OF commerce but nothing has yet
been done. 80 far as known here. and the an
thorites are looking forward with intense IN
terest to the result Of the deliberations Of Pres
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Hay
Mr. BALFoUR's STATEMENT
That the British government regards the sink
ing Of the steamer knight Commander as =
breach OF international law was confirmed nv
Premier Balfour in the House OF Commons This
afternoon. Answering questions regarding thu
destruction or the vessel and the seizure ~ t,7s
Malacca and other vessels. the Premier said he
hoped TO be in a position TO make a brief state
nent regarding the AIalacca tomorrow. Asto
TIE sinking OF the Knight Commando, he re
GREETED that information which reached ne This
morning confirmed this regrettable occurrence %
Mr.. Belfour added.
There IS no question OF loss of life but an,
national Law.
4noif1ss Gibson Bowles, Conservative. will ask
MI Sa-tour IN the House Of Commons to-rnor-
TO" II me government Is aware that the Russian
aIfIoreo cruiser Dirnirri Donskoi after being al
lowed 70 take 500 tons OF coal at Port Said and
a11er her captain had given his word of honor
that ne would proceed at once and by the direct
route to Cadiz. remained of Port Said and
stopped and examined six vessels which were
about 10 enter the canal and a few days later
repeated the stoppage of Alexandria
Mr. Bowles also wants 10 know what steps the
government viii take 10 prevent beIligerent
ships from obtaining at British ports coal TO
Dc used In operations OF war
long meeting Of the Defence Committee was
heio to-day, under the presidency OF Premier
Ssliour, az which the Attorney General SIR
hooeTt Finlay, present. The Attorney Cen
efal does not usually attend these n1eetings but
Il was stated that the questions at issue between
Russia and Great Britain were under discussion,
and that Sir Robert was called in TO give advice
on the questions Of international law involved
re National Defence Committee OF the House
u Commons added the list Of the commit
ses o. the House in March last year. The idea
Inc government had n establishing the committee
vas 70 make II its duty survey the strategic NIL
-1a1y needs OF the empire, 10 deal with compucat-
q Questions and To revise from time 10 time the
committees previous decisions. that the Cabinet