The San Francisco call., 1904-10-29
RUSSIA 5
OFFER IS
ACcEP Ed
England Agrees to
Terms Proposed
BY CzaT.
wan rs AHRTED
Affair Of TraW|ers
to Be Settled by
Commission.
war IS AEERTED

LONDON, Oct. 2S.-War between
Russia and Great Britain has been
averted, and the settlement of the only
points in dispute regarding the attack
by the Russian second Pacific squad
ron on British trawlers on October II
has been referred to an International
commission under The Hague eonven-
ton.
Premier Balfour, speaking at meet
ing of the National Union of Conserva-
tive Clubs at southampton tonight,
broke the silence which has been so
long preserved and hs brought the
people of the United Kingdom TO a
condition of almost desperate irrita-
ton, and had given rise to misconcep-
tions which Balfour tonight exposed.
The Russian ambassador, said
Balfour, has authorized a statement
to the following effect: The Russian
Government, on hearing of the North
Sea incident, at once expressed its
profound regret and also promised
most liberal compensation. The Rus
sian Government has ordered the de-
tention at Wgo of that part of the
fleet which was concerned in the Incl
dent, in order that the naval authori-
ties might ascertain what officers were
responsible for it; that those officers
and any material witnesses would not
proceed upon the voyage to the Far
East; that inquiry would be instituted
into the facts by an International COM
mission, as provided by The Hague
convention.
i kI~;-
was not an arbitration; it was the con-
stitution of an international commits
sion in order to find out the facts. Any
person found guilty would be tried and
punished adequately. The Russian
Government undertook that precau-
tions would be taken to guard against
recurrence of such Incidents Special
instructions on this subject would be
issued.
Preliminary to this court, said Bal
four there would be CorOner's inquest
at Hull over the dead fishermen, a
Board of Trade inquiry and an inquiry
by Russian officers at Vigo The Board
of Trade inquiry would be specially
constituted by the British Government
to include representative men. The
Russian embassy had been asked to
send representative and give assist
ance. Apology and compensation hav-
ing already been offered, nothing now
remained but to determine which ac-
count was correct-Rojestvens or
the trawlers.
Balfour plainly said that Thursday
evening Russia and Great Britain
seemed to be on the brink of war. and
=, fro x,lro 4r.-
titude preserved throughout by the
Car and the Russian Government
While the Premier was unable to praise
the pacific attitude of the Government
too highly. he bitterly assailed Rojest-
vensky's report, declaring that it was
an insult to Great Britain as a neutral
nation, and he ridiculed it's probability.
The immense audience received Bal
four's announcement of the settlement
of the affair with unbounded enthu-
siasm.
The day was an eventful one in the
metropolis. The population, stirred by
faring headlines in the morning news
papers, seemed convinced that war
was inevitable. The Cabinet meeting.
which was held at noon, served to in
crease rather than allay anxiety.
Throughout the country there had
spread deep-rooted though perfectly
erroneous idea that Great Britain had
given Russia a time limit in which to
reply and that Charley Beresford,
England's naval idol, was on the spot.
Many, indeed, thought it was only
question of hours when he would be
demolishing Russian ships. Without
the least national desire for war, a
great naval excitement had been work
ed up. In the streets tonight many
expressions of disappointment might be
heard because the crisis had not de-
veloped into hostilities. This merely
voiced the opinion of the thoughtless,
which comprised a considerable section
of the public. No further differences
are expected
A Additional War NpxvG m, Dno~