Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-29
English Premier Addresses an
: Immense Audience and Re-
fers to North Sea Incident
HOPES TO PRESERVE PEACE
Admits That There Is Still Some Dan
cor of An Unsuccessful Ending to the
Negotiations and Hints That Russian
Practice Makes Shipping On the Seas
Unsafe.

Southampton, Eng, Oct. ~. Pre-
mier Balfour addressed an immense
meeting in Artillery hall last night.
His appearance on the platform at $40
p. m. was the signal for great cheering,
which was again and again renewed.
Balfour said he believed the lamentable
and deplorable tragedy of October 81
% would not end in war. The matter
had been referred to an international
commission, which would consider all
the questions at issue, thus war be-
tween the two great nations would be
avoided without dishonor.
The premier said it was, incredible
that England could be engaged in hos
tile operations, and ridiculed the idea
of a torpedo boat attack. The Russian
fleet was thirty miles out of its course
and it was absurd to suppose that the
commander of the alleged torpedo craft
would choose a position for attaching
the Russian fleet in the center or a
fishing fleet. The premier expressed
disbelief in the existence of these Jap
anese ships and said the nearest jap
anese warship was 1000 miles away.
Such a story as told by the Russian
admiral was the purest fancy Ihe
premier hoped the truth would De
made manifest and clear as .noonday
when the inquiry which the Russian
emperor welcomed, took place.
The Russian government had not at
any time moderated the gravity OF the
crisis or failed to do what 1t could to
diminish it. Mr. Balfour thought the
difficulty was surmounted. At the same
time recklessness or Indifference to
cruelty ought to be avoided by every
man who had the interests of civil1za-
ton of his own conscience at heart. 1t
could not for a moment be supposed
that turnout all the channels OF COM
merce from st. Petersburg to Vlad-
ivostok and the narrow ways of COM
merce like the English CHANNEL and the
Red sea, an admiral of another power
should be allowed to pass under such
circumstances, unscathed, unchallenged
and unpublished, after such deed as
that of the night of Oct. 81. 1t would
be a position which would be impos-
sible for Great Britain as a neutral to
tolerate. Hence the Russian govern
ment had promised to make an inquiry
Of the Russian squadron at Vigo.
The Russian version Of the occur
renee Of the night Of October 81 was
Britain's honor. The torpedo boats
spoken of by the Russian admiral were
phantom ships-creatures of. pure fam
cy-against which Mr.. Balfour entered
q most emphatic protest. He was glad
A. N,,%
had agreed with Great Britain con-
corning the necessity for an investiga-
ton. The responsible officers would not
be permitted to proceed to the far east
and the persons found guilty would be
adequately punished. In agreeing to
these things Russia had taken the
view which commended itself to other
civilized nations. Russia had given a
pledge that she would prevent a recur-
renee of the tragedy which filled the
hearts with sorrow and the hearts of
most men with indignation.
The Russian ambassador had au-
thorized the statement that the Rus
sian government, on hearing of the
North sea incident, at once expressed
profound regret and the Russian en-
peror telegraphed to the king in similar
terms. The Russian government had
also promised the most liberal COM
pensation. The Russian government
had shown an enlightened desire that
truth and justice in this matter should
prevail. The entire facts must be
brought out at the investigation which
Mr.. Balfour pointed out would be made
by three distinct bodies-f1rst, by the
international commission; second. by
the board Of trade inquiry; and third,
by the coroner's inquest.