The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-25

:
to-day sent a long and urgent note to
the Russian Government, officially de-
falling the circumstances of the amaz-
ing and unexplained attack by the
Russian Second Pacific squadron dur
ing the night OF October p on British
fishing boats in the North Sea The
text Of the note has not been given out,
isu1 - 0IacfHIly stated from the
Foreign Office that il contains the sig
nifcsnt announcement that the situa-
ton is one which, in the opinion of his
Ma5esty's Government, does not brook
delay"
Meanwhile, the conservative public
and press are remarkably undemon-
strative. AS usual the lingo element
demands war and even in official quar-
tiers some 90 so far as to say that it
may be necessary 10 stop the Pacific
fleet pending settlement of the whole
affair, though this extreme measure,
II is believed, viii not be necessary.
Everywhere there is evidence Of the
very positive opinion that this is no
time for the usual diplomatic dilly
dallying; that there must be no delay
and no limit set by Russia TO her apol-
ogy or the extent Of compensation for
sufferers by what King Edward him.
self terms the unwarranted action"
Of the Baltic squadron commanders.
The King sent the following mes
sage TO the Mayor of Hull:
From Francis Knollys, Bucking
ham Palace, October "a, 1904. To His
worship, the Mayor of Hull: The
King commands me to say that he has
heard with profound sorrow of the
understandable action which has been
committed against the North Sea fish
ing feet and ask you to express the
deepest sympathy Of the Queen and
his Majesty TO the families Of those
who have suffered from this most la
mentsble occurrence. KNOLLYS."
Francis Knollys. Baron of Favor
sham, is the private secretary of King
Edward.
The deep resentment Of the whole
British public, however, is reflected by
the incident at the Victoria station
tonight on the arrival OF Count
Benckendorff from the Continent.
There is no attempt anywhere among
men OF responsibility TO magnify the
occurrence into a deliberate act Of
war. but in view Of the present inabil-
sty to find an explanation there is be-
ing poured upon the heads of the Off
GERS OF the squadron a food of INJECT
i've and insinuation, though incompe-
fence first and thereafter complete
panic is the most generally accepted
explanation.
NO WORD FROM ST. PETERSBURG
Thus far no official word has been
received from st. Petersburg as TO the
attitude OF the Russian Government
The fact that II had been decided dur
ing the day to prepare a semi-of1icial
note expressing the regret OF the Rus
sian Government and its willingness
10 make full reparation so soon as the
responsfbilfty is fixed was commune
Gated by the press 70 Lord Lansdowne
and was the first information on the
subject he had received from st.
Petersburg. The absence during the
day OF Count Benckendorff, the Rus
sian ambassador, necessarily caused
some delay, but the Russian Charge
d'Anaires, who called at the Foreign
ONCE on request by note from Lord
IansdoWne, unofficially expressed deep
regret and, as far as 1t was possible
for him TO go. gave assurance of speedy
action by the Russian Government.
Lord Iansdowne, in this interview, told
Sansonoff. the Charge, that he desired
10 see ambassador Benckendorff on
Tuesday morning. Lord Lansdowne
asked Sansonof If he could offer any
explanation Of the affair and the lat
ter replied that he only knew what had
appeared in the papers and that he
had not received any word up to that
time from st. Petersburg. Lord Lans-
downe gave no suggestion as to what
might be done in the matter.
RUSSIA'S COURSE is PLAIN.
At the Russian embassy II was |
stated that the whole affair was so /
obviously a mistake, from whatever J
cause. that Russia's course was plain
" dictated-namely, apology and am
pie compensation" All eyes are now
turned toward St Petersburg, await /
ing word from the Russian Govern
ment-
Earl OnsIow. president of the Board !