The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-22
wARLIKE SPIRIT.
Continues to Grow More Intense in
Great Britain.

Great Britain.
| London, July 22.-The authoritative
assurances that the Malacca will be re-
! leased, cabled by the Associated Press
from ST. Petersburg to the United
States, do not appear in the British
morning papers. Special dispatches TO
a somewhat similar effect from St.
Petersburg do not allay the alarmist
strue Premier Balfour'S post-midnight
announcement that the government has
received no confirmation of the report
ed release of the Malacca to mean that
the incident remains unsettled
Another cause for great apprehension
| is the broader question of RuSSia's right
to send vessels of her volunteer fleet
through the DardanelleS. A striking
evidence that the danger has not been
mitigated in the least, so far as British
official and public opinion is entertain
ed, is afforded by the Daily Telegraph
which under a large heading AN Acute
Affair" declares that Relations be-
tween Great Britain and Russia have
reached the state of an acute crisis, but
behind the incident of the Malacca
is the far larger question of the status
of the So-called volunteer fleet.
1T has. we believe, been made clear
to the cars government tnat ira ansfor-
nation of merchant vessels passing the
Dardanelles into armed cruisers can
not be recognized under any pretext
whatever as justifying Russia's in
terference with British shipping. 1t
Is not Impossible J1aI as n concession
to the Russian dignity the government
may offer to permit the Malacca to put
into some neutral port. where her cargo
may be examined and the statement
verified tnat whatever munitions she
carried were intended for the use of
the British China squadron.
In an editorial article this morning
the Daily Telegraph becomes even more
alarmist, declaring that upon Russian
response to Lord Lansdowne demand
the issues of peace or war are staked."
Continuing, the Daily Telegraph says
only in event Russia is prepared to ac-
cept the British condition or the larger
issue would the government as sop
to Russian dignity" permit the Malacca
to be taken to a neutral port
THE main question to be settled be-
tween the Russian and British govern
ment if we are to maintain even tech
nical relations of friendship says the
Daily TeleGraph's editorial, lis the
status of the Russia so-called volun-
teer fleet. The point which has been
made clear to the cars government
by Lord Lansdowne is that Great Brit
ain will not permit a lightning change
from a merchantmen to an armed
cruiser. In other words, if these un-
chartered libertines of the Russian
navy attempt to stop or to search Brit
ish vessels they will be called upon TO
deSist, and if they refuse to obey the
demand they will be fired upon and
sunk. We farther understand the Otto
man government will take steps to pre-
vent the passage OF the JanuS-IaCSQ
vessels through the Dardanelles. and in
the event of their evasion will notify
our government of their departure.
These problems are altogether inde-
pendent of the war in the far east. We
are acting, and shall continue to act,
not as the allies of Japan, but as the |
greatest naval power, protecting the |
against the illicit inroads of
pirates.
The significance of such language by |
a paper so much in the confidence of
the government and which has been |
strongly in favor of an AnglO-Russian |
intente can scarcely be over estimated |
The Standard also sees little abate- |
ment in the gravity of the crisis as a |
result of the statement from st. Peters |
burg that the Malacca- will be released |
Our dignity and self respect" says the |
paper editorially, demand that she be |
before she reaches the Baltic.
The admiral in command of the Medf- |
terranean squadron has received his in
His cruisers are being rap |
idly directed to the propex points, and /
voluntarily surrendered she will be in
tercepted before she can pass the |
straits of Gibraltar
The Daily Mail says there is reason |
to believe that the British garrison in /
the Mediterranean sea will be strength |
ened by drafts from the United King |
dom, while several vessels will be sent |
to the vicinity of the Dardanelles and
others to Port Said.
Admiral Edward Field, retired, speak
ing at a public banquet last evening |
said he believed that the Russian gov
ernment was trying to drag in both !
France and Great Britain.
DO not let Russia play her game,
said the admiral, but leave the matter
to the diplomatists. The Malacca Incl
dent is safer in the hands of Mr.. Bal
four and Lord Lansdowne than in
those of the naval men,