Evening journal., 1904-11-02


London. NOV. Negotiations be-
tween Great Britain and Russia look
ing to a settlement of the North Sea
affair are progressing fRvorably, and
there is not the slightest danger Of any
friction arising between the two gov
ernments Tn constitution Of the in
ternational commission under The
Hague convention is on the verge of
settlement.
In spite of these pacific conditions,
that can only be compared to the panic
that can only be compared to tn epanic
created on Sunday October %, when
the news of the sinking Of the trawlers
in the North Sea was received. Not for
years have so many alarmist reports
and flaming extras flooded London.
The most extraordinary feature of this
scare which was serious enough while
IL lasted is that there was not one sim
gle circumstance to Justify IT, The ex-
citement started when the newspapers
announced the departure of the Rus
sian Baltic squadron from Vigo. The
public were not in possession of the in
formation oabled by the Associated
Press to the United states that only the
officers concerned in the firing on the
British trawlers would be detached,
and jumped at the conclusion that Rus
sia had broken faith by not OBTAINING
the vessels involved in the affair On
top of this came wild reports of tre-
mendous 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 British feet had cleared for
action. Some even said the feet had
sailed to meet Rojestvensky's squad
ron. In huge type the papers made the
parallel statements: "The Russian
feet has sailed THE British feet
has cleared for action" No newspaper
and no person seemed able TO explain
these events. The reassuring informa-
tion available In the United States
that the SAILING OF the Baltic squadron
from Vigo was with the knowledge Of
and agreeable to the British govern
ment was not even limited at by the
papers here.
The news from Gibraltar became
more and more alarmist, and finally
the foreign ONCE was overrun by re-
porters. some Of whom brought the
rumor that Admiral Beresford had al
ready sunk the remnant of Admiral
Roiestvensky's fleet. Ambassador
Benkendor6 at that moment was
quietly discussing with Foreign Minis
ter Lansdowne the personnel OF the
international commission. but II was
popularity rumored that he was receiv-
ing an ultlmatum Premier Balfour,
Admiral Sir John Fisher. commander
in-chief at Portsmouth; Lord Selborne
FIRST lord Of The admiralty. and Prince
Louis. Of Battenburg. director OF naval
intelligence. were all in conference, and
81 was openly hlntcd that they were
planning the first stroke Of war. AS a
matter Of fact, they. like Lord Lans-
downe were engaged in considering
names that had been suggested for the
international commission. When all
London was i'm this state OF mind. and
while everybody who might be sup
posed to know anything was constant
ly being asked Has war been de-
clared?' the foreign Office decided to
adopt a course most unusual for It, and
IN order TO allay the public excitement.
gave ont TO the press the following
ctatement:
Before tie Russian feet left Vigo
instructions We're given TO the Russian
admiral, with the view TO preventing
injury or Inconvenience TO neutral
chipping during the passage Of the
Russian Get 20 the Far East.
"In compliance with Russias en-.
fagemcnt. four Russian officers have
been left behind at Vigo.
'..The two governments are now dis
c'5sins the terms with reference Il
t., international commission whicl
VII be entrusted with the proposed in
{ Try"
Tho furorc would be ludicrous e.
cent for the striking insistence II ha
ryordcd Of the willingness OF the Brii
i7h public to believe that almost an
development is possible after the Mort
coa aGair ard for the enthusiasm pro
d1ced by Gibraltars warlike news. Th
foreign Office is intensely irritated Z
the construction placed upon what the
declare must have been mere feet an
r3rri-on exercises. The Associate
Press is authorized TO state that n
otlers have been given the huge flee
now concentrated at Gibraltar to max
rry preparations in connection wit
the departure Of Admiral Rojestvenl
lv's sQuadrOn.