The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-22
ONLY PROMPT AND PACIFIC Ac.
TON BY RUSSIA CAN NOW
AVERT hosTILlTIEs.
EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT
NOT SINCE THE cRIMEAN WAR
HAVE BRlToNs BEEN so IN.
a
cENsED AT RUSSIA.

London, July 21.-All England is
afame with the spirit of war. The
seizure of the steamer Malacca by the
Russian volunteer fleet steamer st.
Petersburg in the Red sea has aroused
the British public and press to a fever
of excitement and indignation that has
not been equalled since the Crimean
war. The attitude Of both people and
press is menacing in the extreme to
Russia, and only prompt and pacific
action by that power will prevent war.
Even the most conservative, who
have been in the service of the gov
eminent for many years, and those
who openly deplored the haste with
which they thought Great Britain had
plunged into the Transvaal war, frank
ly declare for a policy of reprisal
against what they regard as Russian
violation of treaties and her priatical
attack on British commerce.
The warlike tone of such papers as
the Times, the Standard, the Morning
Post and the Daily Telegraph, which
in national crises hitherto almost in
variably advised caution, has had its
inevitable effect. There has been
stirred up a storm of indignation
among all classes in the United King
dom, the strength of which the gov
eminent itself can scarcely gauge.
Those who deplored the outbreak of
the wal between Japan and Russia
and insisted publicly and privately
that Great Britain, crippled financially
after her South African experiences,
must not at all costs be drawn into
the far Eastern struggle, are now
among the most outspoken champions
of a physical force that will prevent
the repetition of the Malacca incident
in the Red sea
Officials Are in Despair.
Those few officers at the foreign Of
flee who are in full possession of all
to arrive at an entente with Russia
are in despair. They realize that the
policy SO carefully fostered by King
Edward and Foreign Minister Lans-
downe would now be Indignantly re-
pudiated by all parties in the house
of commons and involve with the pub
lie the downfall of any ministry ad-
vOcating it.
Every nerve will be strained, how
ever, by the foreign Office to secure
from Russia an explanation that will
pacify the aggrieved feelings of the
British public and no step will be
taken officially that will tend to pref
udice subsequent diplomatic negotia-
tons looking to the settlement of all
important questions now outstanding
between Russia and Great Britain.
However, there is expressed at the
foreign Office and elsewhere almost
poignant regret that Russia, rightly or
wrongly, should have taken up the pO-
sitiOn evinced by the action of her
volunteer cruisers in the Red sea.
Great Britain's policy since the Rus
so-Japanese war has been one of
strict neutrality, and the Anglo French
entente led to the belief that Britain
and France would be detached specta-
tors Of the far Eastern fray.
The unlocked for developments in
the Dardanelles and the Red sea en-
barrass Lord Lansdowne more than
the circumstances themselves would
indicate. The government, weakened
by internal discussions, could scaSce-
" stand for a day against a popular
demand for reprisals against Russia
and this very danger is assiduously
fostered by leading government news
papers.
Most HumiIiating Incident In Years.
The news that there may be an
amicable adjustment of the difficulties
as the result of an interview between
Car Nicholas and Count Lamsdorff
Is not yet known to the British public
and press. If such an adjustment is
brought about, it will let Premier Bal
fOur's government out of an awkward
and serious crisis; but it will undoubt-
eddy be several months before the
British public can forget what has
been described as the most humiliat.
ing incident in British history since
the Dutch VIGOROUSLY entered the
Thames.
Lord Lansdowne," says the Daily
Telegraph, voicing the views of the
government, has faced the situation
created by the abuse of the right of
search in the only m worthy of
q British minister compelled to de.
fend the interests of British com.
merce and the honor of the flag.
While not n rash word should be
said which could have the effect of in
creasing the tension of an anxious
and dangerous interval, it would be
futile to disguise the character or to
minimize the risks of the situation
which has arisen. We hope and be-
lieve that a solution of the dificulty
may still be found in the withdrawal
Of the Russian government from it's
false position. It is obvious if the
volunteers passed the Dardanelles as
merchant vessels they cannot be al
lowed to scour the Red sea as war.
ships.
Must Either 10 Open or Shut.
sThe doors OF the Black e must
0fiher be open or shut. II open to
Russian warships they must be SO to
~ Narships. II the Russian feet IL