New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-16
THE LENA.

The case Of the Russian warship Lena, over
which 90 many excited headlines have been
erected bids fair 10 be disposed of quietly
and properly and In the very way which has
from the outset seemed most probable. We are
informed that the Russian authorities have de-
cided TO seek continued asylum for the vessel
at San Francisco. That Is nominally' because it
seems TO be impossible TO make the necessary
repairs within such reasonable time as would
be granted for that purpose by the American
government Without such repairs It would be
unsafe 30 attempt a return voyage 20 Vladi-
vOstOk. There IS, then. no alternative but to
remain in asylum at San Francisco. That
means that the vessel viii be disarmed and
disnantIed. and laid ND until the end OF the
war. Just such disposition is supposedly being
made % other Russian ships at Kiao-ChOu,
Shanghai and Saigon. 1t is a customary prac
tice in such cases. ana no reason is apparent
why IL should not be followed with the Lena
In asserting 10 it the American government
would be acting according to precedent and
according 70 the accepted authorities on inter-
national law, and would be giving neither Rus
sic nor Japan cause for complaint
There is OF course. the curious reflection that
we are thus giving asylum 10 a vessel that
came hither on what was much like a hostile
Grand There Is little reason to doubt that
the Lena crossed the Pacific Ocean in quest OF
japanese merchantmen or Of British or Amerl-
can merchantmen bound for japanese ports,
carrying American merchandise and that its
purpose was 20 seize such vessels or such mer-
chandise # It could possibly do 50 on the pre-
text OF contrsbaDd OF war. Its errand was
titus against American commerce and against
commerce that this country holds 90 be legiti-
mate and not oontraband. For il Is 10 be OBJ
served that since her arrival at San Francisco
the prize court at her home port has declared
nOur, cotton and lumber 10 be cOntraband Of
wax. That IS a decision which will prolJs bly
not be acquiesced IN by The rest OF the world
for ff e IS 90 stand then practically ali COM
merce must be suspended in time OF war. In.
deed, Il Is already inftmated that the Admiralty
at 81. Petersburg VIII reverse or modify that
decision. But there can be no doubt that had
the Lena met on her way hitheF a vessel carry
ing American -four. cotton or lumber 20 Japan
she would have seized IL and either taken ii
20 Eia6ivost0k Tor conhscatiOn or have sunk il
ct sea. Nevertheless. despite such a Russian
attitude toward American commerce, Il is well
to give 20 this Russian warBhip the asylum
which Il seeks
We have mentioned the. nominal reason why
such asylum is requested. That may be. and
probably S. % some extent, also, the real cause,
or real cause. But there is another cause OF
marked potency. That Is the knowledge that
Y the Lena should now leave San Francisco,
In no matter how good tr1Tn the chances OF her
safely reaching home would be little more
than snfinitesimal She slipped AWAY from
Nladfvost0k unknown 90 the Japanese, and
SO IL was a comparatively easy task for her
10 come cruising across the Pacific. Whether
Ehe preyed upon commerce we do not know.
IL she did, sunksn ships teIl.no tales, and there
WAS nothing known Of her until she reached