The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-08-26
TWO MORE BRITISH BOATS ARE HELD UP AND
EXAMINED BY MEMBERS OF CARS
VOLUNTEER FLEET.
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ORDERS WARSHIPS
TO DELIVER ORDERS TO RUSSIAN OFFENDERS
Will be Made Plain to Them That Further Interference
With Neutral Shipping VIII Not be Tolerated.
Action Taken at Reauest of Russia.

London, August 25.-Prime Minister
Balfour announced this evening thai
the British government had ordered
two cruisers from the squadron n
the Cape OF Good Hope without delay
to locate the Russian volunteer fleet
steamers Smolensk and st. Peters
burg and to convey to them the or
ders of the Russian government that
they must not further interfere with
neutral shipping. The premier stated
that this action was taken at the
request of the Russian government.
Extraordinary Statement.
This extraordinary statement was
made when the premier by appoint
ment elected a deputation of the Lon
don Chamber of Commerce. The de-
putation was appointed at meeting
held earlier in the day at the China
and East India section, which was at
tended by representatives, shipowners
and others interested in the trade Of
the far east and at which the follow
ing resolution was passed:
This meeting of the London Cham
Der of Commerce concerned in trade
with the far east views with appre-
hension the continued uncertainty of
the position of British trade and ship
ping with regard TO what constitutes
contraband of war as interpreted by
the Russian government"
Disastrous Effects.
The meeting prepared n letter ad-
dressed to Lord Lansdowne the for
eign minister, in which it was stated
that the continuance of the present
situation wtfs-faving a disastrous ef-
ect on shipping and was causing ir-
reparable damage to the whole
course of trade with Japan and the
far east. The letter further SAID that
the commercial community could well
come any measures that might be
necessary to place British commerce
on the same footing with that of other
non -bellgerent treatment of so called
contraband Of war.
Prior to receiving the deputation,
Mr.. Balfour during the day had been
busily engaged in connection with the
question which had been raised with
regard to Russian treatment of Brit
ish shipping. The premier held an
important meeting of the foreign Of
flee to which representatives of the
department of the war
office, the admiralty, the foreign Of
ficers and the board of trade was
""'' Wanted Evidence.
The premier afterwards received
deputation from the chamber of !
deputies from the chamber of COM
merce. Mr.. Balfour said before max )
ing a general statement he desired
% bar evidence tending to show the
lrejudicical treatment by Russian
which was a most important phase OF
he situation and concerning which
he government had no conclusive
and to learn of any con-
.rete example of differential treatment
" Russian officers and Russian prize
'ourts, which he said, were being care
ully considered.
Reviews Cases Mentioned.
Members of the deputation quoted
he case Of the Portland and Asiatic
inc steamer Arabia and tae British
teamer Calchas. The former was
llowed to proceed while the latter
'as still at Nladivostok and the
lembers pointed out that both cases
ere equal so far as the nature OF
10 cases we're considered. The cases
( the peninsular and the Oriental
Dmpany's steamer Malacca and the
line steamer
candia were also quoted. Each OF
H. VesteilA had ammunition. on
but the Sandia was allow
10 proceed. The deputatiOn next
lferred 10 the sinking o the British {
Gamer knight Commander and the
erman steamer Thea. by the Nladi- :
lstOk squadron and pointed ont that :
had been paid IN the
zee nf the Thea while it had not even
.an promised in the case Of the
n eft Commander. Members o the I
rrrati0n stated that 81 vas notorious ]
pt the shipments II cDnfrahand had J
.an made frIm Antwerp and Ham =
r-E while Insurance rates from q
0za and from French ports were r
rrf lower than from English ports n
rhe ration @ shillngs % ~ shil- D
Igs. q