The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-12-03
WILL SETTLE THE
NORTH SEA AFFAIR
Translation of Russo-B British Dec
laration Made Public.
AMERICAN ON COMMISSION
Impression Prevails That Admiral
George Dewey VIII lie Asked TO
he the American Representa-
live ON the Com mission.

London, Nov. 28.-The foreign oflcs
has issued the following English trans
lation Of the declaration signed at St
Petersburg by Sir Charles H~ardlnge.
the British ambassador, and Count
Lamsdor1, the Russian foreign minis
ted.
His Britannia majesty's government
and the imperial Russian government
having agreed to enter into an inter-
national commission Of inquiry, assem-
blod comformably to Articles TX. TO
to XIV, OF The Hague convention OF
July 22, 1904, for the pacific settlement
Of international disputes, the task Of
calculating by means Of impartial and
conscientious Investigations, the ques-
tions of fact connected with the Incl
dent which occurred on the night Of
October q, 1904, In the North sea ION
which occasion the firing of guns on
the Russian feet caused the loss Of a
boat and the death Of two persons be-
longing to a British fishing fleet, as
well as damages of some of those
boats, the undersigned being duly au-
lhorj2ed thereto, have agreed upon the
following provisions:
Provisions OF the Agreement.
Article /. The international COM
mission Of inquiry shall be composed
of five members (commlssioners), Of
whom twp ub1ll ba pflnnrg ~ biyb ,.a,ty
in the British and imperial Russian ma
Vies, respectively. The governments
Of France and Of the United States
shall each be requested to select one
their naval officers Of high rank as
r member of the commission. The fifth
member shall be chosen by agreement
between the four members above mem
in the event of no agreement
being arrived between the four COM
n%issloners as to the selection Of the
fifth member Of commission, his inn
1erial and royal majesty, the emperor
If Austria and king of Hungary, will
invited to select him. Each Of the
.wo high contracting parties shall like
wise appoint d legal assessor to advise
he commissioners. and an agent Off
empowered to take part in the
abors Of the commission.
Article II. The commission shall In
Iutre into and report on all Circum-
tances relative TO the North sea in
ident, and particularly on the question
s to where the responsibility lies, and J
he degree Of blame attaching to sub !
of the two high contracting par
les. or to subjects of other countries ]
n the event of their responsibility be-
ng established by the inquiry. |
Article III. The commission shall {
ettle the details of procedure which
will follow for the purpose of &C. 7
omplishing the task with which Il
as been entrusted. I
Article ". The two high contract I
lg parties undertake to supply the d
commission to the utmost of their ,
bility, with all the means and facili- :
es necessary In order to be able to :.
itself thoroughly with and ap- -
rebate correctly the matters in dis.
ute.
Article V, The commission shall as
'mhle in Paris as soon as possible af-
# the signature of this agreement. y
Article VI. The commission shall =,
resent its report to the two high con- :"
acting p~srties, signed by all the W
embers Of the commission. ~
Article VII. The commission shall u
Ike all Its decisions by a majority OF :"
e votes Of the five commissioners. III
Article VIII. The two high contract w
& parties undertake each to bear on "
ciprocal terms the expense Of the in Vi
liry made by 1t previous to the as 'e
mbly of the commission, the ex- Va
'nse incurred by the International DC
mmission after the date of its as 70
mbly in organizing its staff and con- VI
citing the Investigations which it will pi
We to make, shall be equally shared 81
the two governments. Oh