New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-02
A WAR PANIC GAINED.
British Foreign Office Sets at Rest
alarming RumOrs.

London. Nov. Negotiations between Great
Britain and Russia looking 10 settlement OK
the North Sea affair are going on favorahly'
and there is not the slightest probability OF any
friction arising between the two governments
The constitution of the international commits
sion under the Hague Convention is on the
verge of settlement.
In spite of these pacific conditions. Great
Britain to-day experienced war panic "n'c"
can be compared to the panic attributed oy the
people Of this country TO the fleet under COM
nand of Vice-Admiral Rojestvensky. Not loI
years have so many alarming reports ana nam
ing extras flooded London The most extraordl-
nary feature of this scare. which was serious
enough while it lasted, is that there was not
one single circumstance to justify IT,
The excitement started early in the day wheh
the newspapers announced the departure of the
Russian Baltic squadron from Vigo- The pub
lie was not IN possession Of the information that
only the officers concerned in the firing on the
British trawlers would be detached and jumped
at the conclusion that Russia had broken faith
by not OBTAINING the vessels involved in the
affair
On top Of this came Wild reports OF tremendous
activity at Gibraltar. Hour by hour the news
from Gibraltar became more serious. until the
climax was reached with the announcement that
the British fleet had cleared for action. Some
even said the feet had sailed TO meet Rojestven-
sly's squadron. In huge type the papers made
the parallel statements The Russian feet has
sailed''-"The British feet has cleared for &C
ton No newspaper and no person seemed
able TO explain these dispatches. The reassurins
information available in the United States that
the sailing of the Baltic squadron from Vigo was
with the knowledge OF and agreeable to the Brit
!sh government was not even limited at by the
papers here.
The news from Gibraltar became more and
more alarming, and finally the Foreign Oflce
was overrun by reporters. some Of whom
brought tho rumor that Admiral Beresford had
already sunk the remnant of Admiral Rojest-
yensky's fleet Ambassador Benckendorn at
that moment was quietly discussing with For
eign Minister Lansdowne the personnel OF the
international commission, but II was popularity
rumored that he was receiving an ultmatum
Premier Balfour Admiral Sir John Fisher COM
rander in chief at Portsmouth; Lord SelbOrne
First Lord of the Admiralty. and Prince Louis
of Battenberg, Director of Naval Intelligence
were all in conference. and IT was openly hinted
that they were planning the first stroke OF war
AS matter Of fact they, like Lord Lansdowne'
we're engaged In considering names that had
been suggested for the International commission.
When all London was n this state OF mind,
know anything was constantly being asked.
HAS war been declared?" the Foreign ONCE
decided TO adopt a course most unusual for II.
and in order to alIay the public excitement, gave
out to the press the following statement:
Rafore the Russian fleet left vigo instructions
were given to the Russian admiral with the view
Of preventing injury or inconvenience TO neutral
shipping during the passage of the Russian fleet
In compliance with Russia's engagement four
Russian officers have been left behind at Vigo.
The two governments are now discussing the
terms with reference to the international COM
mission which will be intrusted with the pro-
posed inquiry.
Although II contained nothing that had not
been published in the United States some hours
earlier in dispatches from st. Petersburg and
London it served to inform the people here OF
the exact situation. The general public. how
ever. went to bed tonight firm In the conviction
that it would wake up to hear that Admiral Ro-
iestvensky was at the bottom OF the sea.
To-dav's Juror would be ludicrous except for
the striking instarce it has afforded Of the will
ingness of the British public to believe that al
most any development is possible after 'he North
Sea affair, and for the enthusiasm produced by
Gibraltars warke news.
The Foreign OfiCe is intensely irritated at the
construction placed upon what they declare must
have been mere fleet and garrison exercises The
Associated Press is authorized 10 stare tnal no
orders have been given the huge fleet now con-
centrated at Gibraltar to make any preparations
in connection with the departure of Admiral
Rotestvensky's squadron.
Some annoyance caused IN Downing
Street earlier in the day by the announcement OF
the sailing of the fleet coming from the British
consul at Vigo before the Russian government
officially informed the British government that
the officers whose testimony IS desired lad been
detached Ambassador BenckendOrr soon made
amends for this omission. while Ambassador
Harding confirmed the news from 81. Peters
burg.
Both the Russian Embassy and the Foreign
ONCE affirm that the negotiations to-day were
entirely confined 10 the selection Of the interna-
tionaI commission. in which no hitch has oc-
Cured Count Benckendorff who twice saw
Lord I.ansdowne, in addition to visiting King
Edward at buckingham Palace. was amazed TO
see flaming war posters as he drove back from
his later visit to the Foreign Office. In his two
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