The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-05
AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO
EDWARD FROM THE CAR
Great Britain'S Ruler Receives Pri-
vate Reply to His Neutral
ity Message.
NEWSPAPERS WARNING

LONDON, March 4.--The Russian ar1bas-
cador Count BenclendorT. who returned
FROM ST. Petersburg Wednesday, to-day
visited King Edward and presented the
King with an autosra letter from the
Car. This wss III answer TO letter sent
by the King. who. on hearing that Count
Benckendorff intended SONG to st. Peters
burg TO bid farewell 20 his son, who was
bound to the front with his regiment sent
for the ambassador and asked lin TO hand
the Car an autograph letter. in which
King Edward in the most friendly terms
emphasized Great Britain's complete neu-
trality during the war in the far East, and
said he trusted the Gear would pay no az
tention to the press reports inti-natinG
Great Britain was not neutral. nor to any
unfriendly comments of the English pa
Ders, which the King regretted.
I'VE do not want TO appear as alarmists.
out we would be doing harm and not good
f we tried to conceal the fact that the
present situation in regard to foreign al
airs is one of considerable anxiety VIII
.ay to-mIrrow's Spectator in long article
on the effect of the KussO-JapapeSe war on
international relations, especially the reia-
tions between Russia ana Great Britain.
The Spectator points out how tine Rus
q
Britain is steadily rising. the Russians be-
ing convinced that the British have been
the chief cause OF their difficulties py en-
couraSlng the Japanese 10 go to war.
Without considering whether there is any
truth In this view, continues the Spectator,
the important fact is that ii is held by the
Russian people and that public opinion Is
in such q state Of excitement that war with
Great Britain would De extremely popular.
Proceeding to explain why the military
party should try to escape the humiliation
Of a possible defeat by a small Asiatic
power" the Spectator remarks: "A great
European war would ob!iterate all traces
Of the japanese war. A popular war would
cover up an unpopular one, and give the
Russians an excuse 10 make peace with
Japan or withdraw from Japan's reach and
so stanch the bleeding in men and money
now going on in Manchuria.
Further according to the Spectator, mill
tary men in Russia believe that war
against Great Britain would be conducted
in company with Germany and France and
present no risks to Russia, as the brunt
Germany whose colonies could be taken
in the event of the British being victorious,
while the Russian fleet has already gone
Great Britain could not infiict injury on
Russia"
The Spectator proceeds to warn the press
against giving Russia occasion for picking
a quarrel especially referring to the 'ag
excessively anti-Russian tone of the Times
and the impression of partisanship, which
it declares lit is difficult to condone, or
even unu6TSlaiu
Continuing, the Spectator will say: THAT
the Times should give occasion to those
who desire to embroil Russia and Great
Britain. is rendered more remarkable by
the fact that the Times has done much
excellent service in pointing out the trend
of German policy. It is to be feared the
harm done by the want of restraint origin
ally shown by the British press cannot now
be undone, but at least our newspapers
should realize the need of not playing
into the hands of the military party in Rus
STA or providing material for those who
desire to prove to France that her ally has
been treated in an unfair and hostile spirit
by the British people. While explosives are
lying about there always is need of extra
care and circumspection.
The Spectator concludes by urging the
government to be vigilant and have its
plans prepared for all emergencies. saying:
1--WE must look the facts in the face and
prepare to take the consequences of the
Japanese alliance. One Of those conse-
ouences was the active and bitter hostility
of Russia and the opportunity afforded
TO the German Emperor TO knock the heads
of the European powers together and get
something OF advantage to his nation