Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
coNTRABAND COMMERCE.
Russia's Statement Regarding Steamer
Malacca's Release.

ST. PETERSbURG, august [-AAe leAI
Of the Russian governments statement re-
garding the release of the British steamer
Malacca. seized in the Red sea by the Rus
sian volunteer fleet steamer st. Petersburg.
Is follows: r
From the beginning of the Russo-Jap-
anese war the imperial government took
measures to prevent the transport OF con-
traband of war to Japan by vessels of neu-
trail countries. In the regulations sane
toned by the emperor. February IA. 1904.
which Russia proposed to follow during the
war, list was given Of articles regarded
by us Is contraband.
1T was also declared that the military
and marine authorities would reserve 10
themselves the right of rigidly executing
the decisions contained in the regulations
for naval prizes. sanctioned by the emper-
or March u. 1895, and in the instructions
confirmed by the council of the admiralty
September ~, 1850, regarding the procedure
for stopping, visiting and seiziag as well
for the carrying off and delivering over
of vessels and cargoes seized The Eoiun-
teer fleet vessels St. Petersburg and Snol-
ensk. having received a special commission
the term Of which has now expired. in pro-
ceeding to their destinations. acted in ac-
cordance with the above decisions and
while passing through the Red sea stopped
and visited all suspected vessels encoun-
tered In those waters.
1T was under these conditions that the
commander of the st. Petersburg stopped
among others the British steamer Malacca.
the captain Of which refused to show his
ships papers relating to the cargo refusal
which led to the seizure of the vessel and
the decision to send her to Libau with the
view to throwing light on the matter. New
ertheless in view of the official statement
of the British government that the Malacca
was carrying British state cargo, the i'm
perial government, acting in agreement
with the British government, decided that
.tctt CHI hn Maid m fhn col
vessel at the nearest port on its route In
the presence of the British consul. This
visit occurred at Algiers
The British consul general officially GER
tilted that the military stores on board con-
tinued to be the property of the British
government. and that the rest Of her cargo
was not contraband of war. Taking this
attestation into consideration the imperial
government decided to liberate the cargo
and vessel. This decision must not, how
ever. be interpreted as a remuneration by
the imperial government of it's intention to
dispatch cruisers and warships in general to
prevent the carrying of contraband for our
enemy"
Comment on Malacca Case.
The Official Messenger publishes the notice
of the release of the steamer Malacca,
which was seized in the Red sea by the
Russian volunteer feet steamer st. Peters,
burg, and reviews the case. The article
concludes thus:
The arrangement for her inspection and
release now is taken in abrogation of Rus
sia's right. which she still maintains. and
her cruisers and warships will stop vessels
and search them for contraband destined
for the enemy.
Mccormick Returns to st. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG. August 2, 4:25 p. M
Mr.. Mccormick, the American ambassador.
arrived here today from Carlsbad. His
health is much improved. the treatment for
a cure having practically been completed.
In view of the questions arising in connec-
ton with the stopping of contraband of
war; Mr.. Mccormick deemed it wise to cut
short his vacation and return to his post.
The ambassador was not instructed by the
State Department to return.
The United States government has been
informed that no decision relative to the re-
lease of the Portland and ASiatic line
steamer Arabia can be rendered until after
her trial before the prize court, as previous
ly stated In these dispatches.
The admiralty has not yet received Off
cIal confirma ton of the sinking of Ger
man steamer by the Vladivostok squadron
and her name has not been revealed
United States Ambassador Mccormick
has cabled the State Department., annOunc-
ing his Jeturn to ST. Petersburg this morn
ing from Carlsbad. Austria, and the re-
sumption by him of his official duties. His
absence lasted less than fortnight. 1t is
said at the State Department that he was
not ordered to return to st. Petersburg, but
was allowed to exercise his discretion in the
matter.
Discredited at Berlin.
BERLIN, August 2.-The foreign Office
here discredits the statement from Vladivo-
stok that a German steamer besides the
British steamer knight Commander was
sunk by the Russian squadron. The off,
Gals think that if the report was true the
owners of the vessel would already have
brought the case to the attention of the
foreign office. or some German consul in
the far east would have reported it. Moth
ing of the kind being reported, the foreign
office assumes that the announcement is
erroneous.