The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1904-09-13
PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN VESSEL
AT SAN FRANCISCO A DiSA-
GREs,AsLE INCIDENT.
OFFICIALS AT WASHINGTON CONFER
UNITED STATES WILL FOLLOW
COURSE PURSUED BY OTHER
NEUTRAL POWERS.

Washington, Sept. IS. - Admiral
Goodrichs report of the presence oil
the Russian transport Lena In san
Francisco harbor caused a great STIR
in official circles here The entry OF
the ship was entirely unexpected and
was a 6isagreeable event, for 1t had
been hoped by the officials that Amer
lea would escape being drawn into the
necessity of making close decisions
respecting the rights OF beillgerehl
vessels in our ports.
Secretary Morton promptly sought
the advice Of the state department,
sending Captain Pillsbury, acting chief
of the navigation bureau, over TO see
Acting Secretary Adee. The latter IN
turn called for Judge Penfieid, the
department' solicitor, and a confer
ence ensued between the three men
lasting half an hour. Then the state
ment was made that after all THIS was
not a matter which at this stage con
cerned the state department, Dut
rather it is within the jurisdiction Oh
the treasury department. The pres
ence of the Russian transport, SO
called, IN San Francisco harbor In
wolves the application OF the
United States Neutrality Laws
and it was said at the state depart.
ment that it was the duty, under the
presidents proclamation OF neutrallty
for the treasury officials tlrere-the
collector of customs and surveyor OF
the portland the United States dis
~. Cr.N Etyar M n
any action necessary in this matter
In other words the case is purely IN
ternal as it stands, though it may be
come external at any moment and thus
require action by the state depart
ment in the event that another nation
Japan for instance, officially calls at
tention to the Lena S presence IN San
Francisco harbor.
Ii is said at the state department
that in international law there is nc
difference recognized between trans
port and a battleship, though there
seemed to be an intimation conveyed
in the San Francisco dispatches that
the captain of the Russian shll
thought otherwise and was disposed
to claim exemption from the rules ol
war applying to naval ships.
That being the case it is probable
that the government here will follow
closely the course pursued by Ger
many, France and China in eases
where Russian naval vessels sought
shelter in their harbors. The frs
thing to be done is to find the
Exact Condition of the Lena
and whether or not there actually ex
lists need for repairs. Ii it should ap
pear that the vessel is really seawor
thy she must go to sea at once or al
1 least within twenty-four hours of no
tice to our officials of her arrival IL
port. She may take on supply O
coal, but only sufficient to move hel
to the nearest home port and it vii
be part of the understanding under
which this coal is furnished that it IL
to be used for no other purpose. Amer
ican ports must not be made the basis
of hostile operations against either d
the belligerents.
Vladivostok and Port Arthur are tht
nearest Russian ports to San Fran
cisco. but 1t is possible that our gov
ernment would recognize the fact tha
they are absolutely closed by blockade
TO the Lena and thus sanction the de
pAfIuTe Vi snip loi Auoo'o ooueAi
ward by way of the west coast O
South America, Cape Horn and thu
Atlantic ocean.
In the event that repairs are fount
to he actually necessary the time al
lowed for them will be fixed by oul
government experts and when thel
are completed, though 1t is understood
that they must not proceed beyond
point Just sufficient to make the vesse
seaworthy. she will be allowed to de
mart for Russia If she takes coal II
San Francisco, or whence she please'
il she goes out under her own Goa
supply.