The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-28
NORTH SEA
TRAGEDY
INQUIRY

London. Nov. 2s.-The Foreign Office
has issued the following English transla-
tion OF the declaration signed at st. Pc
tersburg by Sir Charles Hardinge. the
British Ambassador. and Count Lams-
dors. the Russian Foreign Minister:
His Britannia Msjesty's government
and the Imperial Russian Government
having agreed TO entrust 10 an interna :
tional commission OF inquiry. assembled
conformity TO Articles To XIV OF The
Hague convention OF July. 1899. for the
pacific settlement OF international dis
putes, the task OF eluoidating by means
OF impartial and conscientious investiga-
tion the questions OF fact connected with
the incident which occurred during the
night OF Oct. 2l-22, 1904, I'm the North Sea
con which occasion the firing OF guns on
the Russian fleet caused the loss OF a
boat and the death OF two persons belong
ing 10 British fishing feet. as well as
damages TO other boats OF that fleet. and
injuries TO the crews OF some OF those
boats). the undersigned, being duly au-
thorized thereto. have agreed upon the
following provisions:
FIFTH TO BE SELECTED.
Article j. The international commits
sion OF inquiry shall be composed of Ave
members commissioners, OF whom two
shall be officers OF high rank in the
British and Imperial Russian navies, re-
spectvely. The governments OF France
and OF the United States shall each be
requested 10 select one OF their naval
officers OF high rank as "A member OF the
commission. The fifth member shall be
chosen by agreement between the four
members above mentioned, i'm the event
OF no agreement being arrived between
the four commissioners as to the selection
, OF the fifth member OF the commission
his imperial and royal majesty, the en-
peror of Austria and king of Hungary,
will be invited TO select him. Each OF
the two high contracting parties shall
likewise appoint a legal assessor 10 advise
the commissioners and an agent officially
empowered 10 take part in the labors Of
the commission.
Article IL. The commission shall in
quire into and report on all circumstances
relative 10 the North sea incident and
particularly on the question as 10 where
the responsibility lies and the degree of
blame attaching TO subjects OF the two
high contracting parties or 10 subjects
of other countries I'm the event OF their
responsibility being established by the
inquiry.
ASSEMBLE IN PARIS.
Article Ill The commission shall set
tie the details OF procedure which IL
viii follow for the purpose of a COM
plishing the task wherewith IL has been
entrusted.
Article w. The two high contracting
parties undertake to supply the commits
sion to the utmost OF their ability with
all the means and facilities necessary,
i'm order 10 enable 10 20 acqualnt itself
thoroughly with and appreciate correctly
the matters in dispute.
Article V. The commission shall as
semble i'm Paris soon as possible after
the signature OF this agreement.
Article vi. The commission shall pre-
sent it's report 10 the two high contract
ing parties. signed by all the members
OF the commission.
take all It's decision by a mojority Of the
votes OF the five commissioners.
Article VIII. The two high contract
ing parties undertake each TO bear on
reciprocal terms the expenses OF the In
qury made by II previous to the assembly
OF the commission. The expenses in
Cured by the International commission
after the date OF its assembly in organ
izing it's staff and conducting the investi-
cations which II will have TO make shall
he equally shared by the two govern
ments.
"In faith thereof tho undersigned have
signed the present agreement (declaraa-
tion and affixed their seals 10 It,
Done In duplicate at st. Petersburg
Nov 25 1aOi 4"