New-York tribune., 1904-09-13
JAPAN MAKES A PROTEST.
THE CASE OF THE Lena.
This Government VIII Enforce the
Neutrality La1cS Strictly.

/ formal demand that the vessel be required
| TO leave port at the end of that time
/ The collectors telegram giving official notice
/ to the authorities here OF the arrival Of the
Lena and of Japans protest was addressed
10 the Secretary Of tne Treasury who at once
4 sent copies TO Mr.. Adee. Acting Secretary OF
/ State and Mr.. Murray, Acting Secretary Of
| Commerce and Labor. who has direct jurisdic-
tion in the case. The telegram reads fol-
/ lows:
japanese Consul has made demand upon me
! that Russian auxary cruiser Lena arriving
! at this port 11th inst. leave within twenty
! four hours The captain reports that he has
entered for repairs OF engines and boilers, prin-
! cipally the latter / am requesting the in
| spector Of hulls ard boilers 10 make an exam
ination of vessels machinery with the consent
OF the Russian Consul and the commander OF the
Lena. Can find no authority I'm the law or reg
uIations for the collector assuming any
thority in the premises and request lnstTuc-
tions.
INSPECTORS REPORT AWAITED.
After a conference with the Commissioner Of
Navigation. Acting Secretary Murray sent the
following dispatch 70 the collector:
Your telegram addressed to Secretary Treas
ury, concerning Russian steamship Lena re-
ceived at 40 p You should have addressed
this department. directed In circular ~
Wire this department hour OF steamers arrival
at your port and concise resume Of steamboat
inspectors report. ana if repairs are necessary
the probable time required To complete them.
on receipt Of particulars the department will
instruct you further See circular - end Of
page , and all Of page ..
The circular referred to was issued on Febru-
airy 13 Of the present year. Immediately after
hostilites between Russia and Japan began. and
/ besides containing the Presidents proclamation
and the provisions or the statutes relating 10
! neutrality gave instructions to collectors that
should any case arise requiring official action
you will communicate the facts to the depart
ment by telegraph"
The collectors telegram came after Office
! hours. and the officials somewhat puzzled
/ that there should have been much delay in
/ sending II. There was p good deal Of reticence
the subject the part Of the officials of
| the Department Of Commerce and Labor and
the Bureau Of Navigation. who preferred to
await the report Of the steamboat inspector he
! fore making any statement. This report IT Is
! expected. will be received some time in the
! night. so that the Lena win have been in port
! more than twenty-four hours before the ques-
tion Of her right To tie up for repairs is de-
! terminel.
! Mr. Takahira, the japanese Minister. returned
/ tonight from "A brief visit 10 Ncw-York, and
/ retired he reached the legation. HIS
! course regarding the Russian ship al San Fran
cisco will depend altogether The State De
/ partInent's action. but the Minister has conn
dence that this government will act promptly
and in strict accordance with international law.
He was una BILE 10 say tonight what time to-
morrow he would Acting Secretary Adee
The Navy Department received a dispatch
from Rear Admiral Goodrich. commanding the
Pacific station. stating that the Russian trans
port Lena had arrived at San Francisco and
that her commanding officer asserted that his
ships engines and boilers were in need OF re-
pairs.
THE PACIFIC SQUADRON HELD.
Secretary Morton has Instructed Admiral
/ Goodrich TO detair the Pacific Squadron at San
Francisco and inquire Of the commander OF the
Lena what his intentions are.
The report Of The presence Of the Lena ct San
| Francisco HaTbor caused great stir in otIicia!
ci,cles here. The entry Of the ship was uneX-
peeed and was deagreeable. for il had been
hoped by the officials that the government
YOU'D escape the necessity of making close de-
/ cisioas respecting the rights of belligerent
sells in American ports Secretary Morton
promptly sought the advice OF the State De-
partment sending Captain Pillsbury acting
chief of the Navigation Bureau, TO Acting
/ Secretary Aeee. The latter in turn called for
Judge Penneld. the Departments solicitor and
! a conference among the three men lasting
half an hour followed Then the statement was
made that this was not 4 matter which at this
| stage concerned the State Department, but was
within the jurisdiction OF the Treasury Depart
/ ment. The presence OF the Russian at san
Francisco involves the application Of the neu-
| trslity laws, and it was said at the State
| Department that it was the duty. under the
Presidents proclamation of neutrality, for the
Treasury officials there-the collector OF GUS
toms ana the surveyor of the portland the
Continued on third page.
/ Beautiful ~ Y