The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-08-12
ENGLAND NOR SATISFIED.
Russia Must Modify Her Contraband
Declaration.

London, Aug. 1.-THE Associated
Press learns that Great Britain Is
distinctly dissatisfied with Russia's at
titude in the case of the British steam
er Knight Commander (sunk by the
lVladivostok squadron off Izu), and con-
tinues to press Russia to make sub
stantial notifications Of the list of ar
ticles regarded as contrabrand.
The questions of the Russian yolun-
teer feet steamers and Russia's views
on contrabrand of war were raised in
both the house OF commons and house
of lords this afternoon.
In reply Lord Lansdowne said that
the government had already explained
its views as to the illegality Of the
factions OF the st. Petersburg and the
Smolensk. Russia, he added. had sent
instructions to desist from similar
seizures. These instructions had reach-
| ed their destination, and consequently
the foreign office assumed that there
would be no further seizures.
In regard to other vessels of the vol-
lunteer fleet passing the Dardanelles
jim the future Lord Lansdowne con-
f1rmed the Associated Press dispatches
Regarding the undertaking obtained by
| the porte from Russia, that the ves-
sells shall fly. the Russian commercial
flags during the whole voyage, and not
carry armaments or munitions of war,
and not be transformed into cruisers.
AS to the more serious question
OF Russian views Of contrabrand Of war
the foreign secretary pointed out that
the regulations issued by Russia at the
beginning of the war greatly amplified
| the definition of contrabrand hitherto
accepted by Great Britain. and, he be-
llieved, by most other countries, the en-
llarged definition including such articles
as coal, alcohol. rice and other provi-
sions, horses, etc. 1t seemed to be a
matter OF such Importance that the
British government deemed 1t its duty
| to call the attention Of Russia to the
gravity OF the question, referring par
ticularly to the inclusion Of provisions,
in which this country is very largely
interested, among the articles regarded
las Internationally contrabrand of
war"
The British government had pointed
out that this inclusion was serious
innovation, and stated that it was
bound to assert its rights by protesting
Iagainst the doctrine that 1t was optional
for a belligeren to decide on what ar
ticles should be dealth with as contra
band, regardless of well established
rights and usages. The government has
Informed Russia that it refused to con-
Isider itself bound to regard as valid the
decision of any prize court violating
these rights, or which failed to act in
conformity with recognized principles Of
law. The effect of these
severe rules has been greatly intensified
by the exceptional measures taken to
enforce them, as in the case of the
Knight Commander. The government
had been given to understand that Rus
sia considered that 1t was within the
rights of belligerent to destroy a cap
tured neutral vessel whether she car
ried contraband or not. This country
had never accepted such view, and he
(Lord Lansdowne) believed 1t had been
refused by other powers.
In the house of commons Premier Bal
-four, speaking on the same lines as Lord
1ansdowne, in the house Of lords, said
he was perfectly confident that no neu-
trail ship would again be sunk by the
Russians. He fully agreed in the state
ment that such a sinking was an inter-
national outrage, and the government
had expressed to Russia in the clearest
way possible that view with the above
result.