The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-29
THE CRISIS
NOW PAST
Small Likelihood of a
War.
STATEMENT BY BALF0UR
English Protests Well Met by
st. Petersburg.
Cases of Red Sea Steamer Practically
All settled, But knight Com
mandcr Incident Is Not
STATEMENT BY BALFOUR


Commons this afternoon Premier Bal
four. confirming the announcements
made in these dispatches said that the
acute stage of the Red Sea incidents
had passed, and that the Russian vol
unteer fleet vessels would be with
drawn.
He laid down the British view that
no belligerent's warships could issue
from the Black sea and that volunteer
fleet vessels in issuing therefrom, If
| they took belligerent action, either had
no right to issue or no right to take
such action.
The strongest possible exception had
been taken to the seizure of the Malac-
ca, on the above ground. the premier
added. The Russian government had
met the British contention in regard
to this particular incident.
The knight Commander.
AS to the knight Commander case,
the government had earnestly protest.
ed that the sinking of that vessel was
contrary to the accepted practices of
the nations Mr.. Balfour's exact words
in regard to the Russian assurances on
the subject of the seizure of the Ma
lacca and other vessels were as fol-
lows:
The Russian government have met
us in this matter, 1 will not say on
particular instance. The Malacca could
not be stopped before she left Port
Said, but she has now been released at
Algiers. The Russian government at
the same time gave us assurances that
IL the vessels of the volunteer beet
made further captures before instruc-
I tons could reach them that. pending
the discussion of the general principle
involved. no action should be taken
no nj
garded as not having occurred.
I'm accordance with that arrange
ment, the Ardova and Formosa have
been released.
I'VE have received assurances that
the volunteer fleet vessels are to be
withdrawn from the Red Sea and we
have little doubt that there will be
no further desire on the part of sthe.
| Russian Government to employ them
as cruisers. SO far, therefore, as these
| ships CO. the controversy has passed
/ out of the acute stage.
Trouble Not Anticipated.
! 81 will not say that the Governments
| of this country and Russia have reach
ed an agreement on the general prin-
ciple, but l think we need not antici-
pate any practical violation of the view
which we very strongly hoid Is hkeiy
| to occur"
| Mr. Balfour assumed a more serious
| tone as he referred to the Knight Com
| mander.
There are 1 am sorry to say said
| the Premier, "other questions not con-
nected with the incident at all which
must cause some discussion between
! the two Governments. and, like all
discussions between Governments, there
NAV be legitimate cause for anxiety.
| We hold that 1t Is not proper that, on
| the authority of the captain OF d
cruiser, goods alleged to be contra
band of war should be taken from u
merchant ship without trial
This statement of the Premier was
| greeted with an outburst of cheers.
The proper COURSE continued Mr..
Balfour, according to international
practice, is that any ship reasonably
| suspected of carrying contraband Of
war should be taken by the belligereht
| to one of it's own ports and Its trial
| should there occur before a prize court
by which the case is to be determined.
Violation of No Precedent.
evidently if 1t is left to the captain
| of a cruiser to decide on his own 1nl-
tiative and authority whether particu-
lar articles carried on a ship are or
are not contraband. what is not merely
| a practice of nations but what Is
| necessary foundation of equitable re-
| lations between belligerents and net
trails would be cut down to the root.
| This statement of the Premier was
| also cheered. He continued:
| More serious than the others is the
case of the knight Commander. If, as
| our information leads us to fear, she
was sunk by a cruiser of the Nladivos-
tok squadron on the ground that she
| carried contraband of war; in our view
it is entirely contrary to the practice
of nations in war time and we have
| earnestly pressed our view on the Rus
sian government that they will give
such orders as to prevent recurrence
of unfortunate incidents of that char
acter. l feel comment that Will ne 'He
| case"
In conclusion Mr.. Balfour said:
II cannot help feeling that there is
| some misapprehension regarding the
duty incumbent on neutrals. l have so
far only stated what we believe to be
the duties and obligations Of belliger-
ents and these duties to the best OF
our abilities we mean to see carried
into effect. but the belligerent of today
is the neutral of tomorrow and the
neutral of today is the belligerent of
| tomorrow.
Duties of Neutrals.
There are duties incumbent on neu-
| trails which must be borne in mind by
, the ship owners of the country. 1t is
undoubtedly the duty of captain of a
neutral ship to stop when summon ID
| to stop by a cruiser of "A belligerent
and to allow. without difficulty his pa
pers to be examined. That obligation
on neutrals we have Systematically,
consistently and sternly enforced when
we have been belligerents and II would
not become us TO minimize that duty. "
| In reply to a question regarding the
seizures in the Red Sea, Mr. Balfour
said that if any damage had been done
| the claims for compensation would not
be affected by the Anglo Russian agree
| ment.
Asked whether any difference be-
| tween the two countries likely to lead
to war would be referred to The Hague
arbitration tribunal. the Premier re-
piled:
| That is hypothetical question
which 1 can hardly be expected to an
swer The Government will not be sus-
pected of any desire to plunge reckless
! ly into hostilities. 1 would be trav-
cling beyond my functions if l were to