The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-20

And Settle the Anglo
Russian Dispute.
The International Commission Will
Begin IFS Sitting in he
Gallo Capital Tues
day.
(By the Associated Press.)


Paris, Dec. 17.-Great activity is
manifested in official and diplomatic
quarters in connection with the open
ing next Tuesday of the session of the
International Commission, which is to
inquire into the North Sea incident.
of the leading naval figures
of the five foremost maritime powers.
Besides the Anglo Russian crisis
which the appointment of the COM
mission has averted it is expected that
the meeting will establish Il number
of presidents affecting international
naval conditions and the rights and
responsibilities of beIligerents and
neutrals in time of war. The British
and Russian members Of the commits
sion will arrive here Monday. The
French member is already here. The
steamer Finland, on which Rear Ad-
miral Charles II. Davis, the American
representative on the commission is
n passenger, is due to arrive at Dover
Sunday night and Admiral Davis is
expected to arrive in Paris Monday.
The various delegations include
number of interesting personages.
CIado Is the Star.
Special interest attaches to Captain
Clado of the Russian navy, owing to
his sensational arrest for engaging H.
Il newspaper campaign with the OBJ
ject of having the Black Sea fleet pass
the Dardanelles to reinforce Vice Adj
miral Rojestvensky's squadron. Clado
is considered the ablest naval tactician
in Russia.
Final arrangements have been made
for the, opening session to take place
Tuesday. December 20. Instead of
the gorgeous Hall of the Ambassadors
as at first contemplated the commits
sion would be installed in more con-
venient business quarters on the first
floor Of the palace on the Quai
D'Orsay. The meeting room is a beau
tiful apartment in white and gold
with Louis XIV decorations mirrors
and rich frescoes. There the COM
mission will first meet informally and
privately as the proceedings will be
private until it is formally decided 10
make them public 1t is expected
that Foreign Minister Delcasse Will
make the address of welcome. There
after the admirals will chose a fifth
admiral, determine questions of pro-
cedure and adjourn until after the
holidays.
British Case Made Up.
1t is understood that the British
side of the case is practically made
up. 1t is. the expectation that Sir
Edward Fry will bear the burden of
presenting and proving the case as it
is assumed that English common law
principle Will prevail; that the burden
of proof is upon Great Britain to
prove in the affirmative and not upon
Russia to disprove in the negative.
A number of rumors concerning the
commissions probable decision are
already in circulation. One is TO the
effect that three admiraIs out of the
four are already III favor of the Brit
ish contention, thus ensuring an ulti-
mate decision favorable to Great Brit
ain. The names of the admirals are
being mentioned, but this and other
reports are purely speculative. All
the admirals are men of independ-
ence, and rigid believers in awaiting
official details before reaching a con-
c!usion.
Therefore it is certain that the case
will be judged and decided on it's
merit and without nreconceived in
clinations.