Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-26
STEAMERS SUNK BY
RUSSIAN CRUISERS.
Matter Fully Discussed at a Meet.
ing Of the British Foreign
Office
KNIGHT COMMANDER INCIDENT.
Attracts Official and Public Interest,"
Negotiations Have Been Conducted
In COnciliatory Manner.

London, July 26.-The sinking of the
British steamer knight Commander by
Russian cruisers Off Japan was fully
discussed at meeting Of the cabinet
today, held at the foreign office. Be-
fore this meeting Count Benckendorff,
the Russian ambassador, was clOseted
with Foreign Secretary Lansdowne and
discussed in detail the operations OF the
Russian cruiser In connection with neu-
trail shipping but as the Russian ambas-
sador had not been officially informed
by the Russian government Of the de-
struction of the knight Commander,
the ambassador was unable TO make
any statement to the foreign secretary.
The Knight Commander incident Is
one that is attracting much official and
public interest, for the reason that In
the British official view II is one thing
to seize a ship having contraband on
board and another 10 sink her without
proper legal inquiry TO establish wheth-
er she is a good prize. The British
government Is DESTROYS Of obtaining all
the facts before approaching Russia on
the subject. The British authorities In
Japan are obtaining testimony which
will enable the British government to
make up Its case. 1t Is said IN a reli-
able quarter that Great Britain Will
make earnest representations to Rus
sia with the view TO securing repara-
ton, and TO prevent interference with
neutral commerce, such as It has been
subjected to recently
NEGOTIATIONS CoNCILIATORY,
London, July 26.--While the negotia-
tons between Great Britain and Russia
respecting the Red sea seizures have
been carried on In the most conciliatory
manner, the Associated Press learns
that in the representations TO the 81.
Petersburg government Foreign Secy.
Lansdowne declared that Great Britain
could not, In view of her treaty alli-
ance with Japan, allow any interpreta-
ton TO be placed on treaties relating to
the Dardaneles which would permit of
the free passage OF vessels OF the Rus
sian volunteer fleet from the Black sea
TO the Mediterranean with the view
OF their subsequent employment for war
purposes.
Premier Balfour, replying to a ques-
ton In the house of commons today IN
regard to the sinking OF the British
steamer Knight Commander said in
quirles were being made on the slbject
but he was not yet In position to make
a statement replying TO another ques-
ton, the premier said the government
was not aware Of any convention con-
cluded in 1901 between Turkey and
Russia providing special conditions for
the passage of the Dardanellcs by spe-
cial Russian ships
RUSsIAs RIGHTS.
. III. On
While entirely without adyices regard
Ing the circumstances surrounding the
sinking Of the British steamer Knight.
Commander, Russia. the Associated
Press Is Informed at the foreign office.
maintains the right Of her warships TO
sink a neutral vessel carrying contra
band where her papers show that she is
clearly confiscatable, and when circum-
stances render II impossible or too dam
gerous to attempt to get her to home
port, and in such case liable for dam
ages to the value of the ship Is not adj
mitted.
A SEARCHING INQUIRY.
Toxic, July 26.--(2 p. M Sir Claude
Macdanold, the British minister to
japan, has instituted searching In
quiry into the sinking OF the British
steamer knight Commander by the
Russian Vladlvostok squadron lie
will take the testimony OF the crew Of
the knight Commander and examine
the officers Of the steamer Tsinan,
which brought the Knight Command
er's crew into port.
SEIZURE OF THE FoRMosA
London, July 2G.-(6:27 p. m.)--The
foreign office had not heard of the
seizure Of the steamer Formosa this
afternoon, and while expressing re-
gret II says the only possible explana-
ton consists in the fact that the Rus
sian governments ordei 60 cease In
teriering with neutral vessels have not
yet reached the commanders Of tho
volunteer fleet steamers, az the Rus
san government has given the most
explicit pledge that there shall be no
more Red sea seizures
The Formosa left London July Q and
Suez July g. bound for Yokohama.
AT ESOPUS.