The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-31
CREDIT DUE DELcAssE.
France's Position Was As Dubious As
 Engiand's.


 St. Petersburg, Oct. 30.-The world will doubtless take particular interest in according Emperor Nicholas, to whose initiative The Hague convention owed it's existence, the honor and credit of having proposed an honorable solu- tion of the North Sea incident, which might have plunged Russia and Great Britain into war, by an appeal to its rules
 Nevertheless, the Associated Press learns, on very high authority, that this diplomatic triumph belongs to M. Delcasse, the French Foreign Minister. When the yellow book of France and the blue book of Great Britain. cover ing this incident are issued, some very interesting diplomatic history will be disclosed. The great gravity of the situation, especially in Great Britain, where the infiamed state of public opinion might at any moment have driven the Government to extreme measures. and the danger involved in delay were keenly appreciated in the French capital Frances stake Is al- most equal to that of parties directly interested and the very peace of the Republic was involved, as a rupture be- tween Great Britain and Russia, even tuating in war by putting Great Britain and the Japanese in the position of making common cause against Russia would inevitably result in an appeal to France to fulfill her obligations un- der the dual alliance. M. Delcasse, therefore, at the very outset went earn estly to work as a friend of both to find an equitable basis for adjustment.
 The opportunity came when Admiral Rojestvensky's report received a direct Issue of fact According to the Asso- ciated Press information, M Delcasse at once suggested an inquiry to estab- fish the facts through an international commission under The Hague conven- ton, offering the suggestion simulta- neously to both governments through Ambassador Cambon to Foreign Min ister Lansdowne and through Secretary Boutieron in Ambassador Bompard's absence to Count Lamsdorf.
 The idea found instant favor both here and in London and Thursday night the Russian and British propositions, identical in effect, actually crossed each other on the way to the respective cap itals. There was, however, this differ ence between them: Lord L4ansdowne's s instructions to Ambassador Hardinge authorized him to submit the proposi- tion on behalf of the British Govern ment, whereas Count Lamsdorff's in structions were tentative and rather in the nature of a feeler as Count Lams- dorff although he knew the Emperor was favorable to the plan. had not yet secured the absolute consent of His Majesty. to whom he arranged to sub init the matter finally on Friday after noon
 In the meantime, on Friday morning the British proposition reached the Rus sian Foreign Minister at Tsarkoe- -Selo. and Friday afternoon, the Emperor gave his hearty approval. Tentative instructions had been cabled to Am bassador Benkendorff at London the previous night and without waiting to return to St. Petersburg. Count Lams- dorff cabled Ambassador Benkendorff specific authorization in the name of His Majesty as follows:
 The official messenger today said q telegram has been received from For eign Minister Lamsdorff to Count Ben kendorff, the Russian Ambassador to Great Britain and the Ambassadors re- ply thereto has been forwarded. The telegram of Count Lamsdorff is dated Tsarskoe-Selo, October 2s, and is as follows:
 Tn a desire to bring everything that occurred in the North Sea into the cIearest light possible, our monarch considers it beneficial to submit the affair to an international commission of inquiry on the basis of The Hague con- vention for thorough investigation. Your excellency is directed by the i'm perial command to propose this means of settlement of the question to the British Government.
 To this Count Benkendorff replied October 2s:
 T have communicated your excel Iencys telegram to Lord Lansdowne. The British Government accepts the ..orosaI to submit the North Sea In- cident in all its extent to the examina- tion by an international commission as provided for by The Hague conven- tion ."