The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21
BEGINS TEMPORIZING.
Russia Pursuing Policy of Delay in
Malacca Incident.

London, July 21.-The Associated
Press learns that Count Benokendorff,
the Russian ambassador, at a confer
ence with Foreign Secretary Lans-
downe yesterday afternoon made what
may be considered to be preliminary
reply to the British protest against
the seizure of the steamer Malacca.
He assured the foreign secretary that
his government had no intention of
infringing on the rights of Great Brit
ain or any other neutral power and
that if mistake had been made in the
seizure or the Malacca Internationally
the steamer will Immediately be re-
stored and damages would be paid.
The Associated Press tonight inter-
viewed many prominent persons con-
nected and in close touch with the
government relative to the seizure of
British vessels by steamers of the Rus
sian volunteer fleet in the Red sea. AS
a result of the inquiries there is shown
to be a remarkable hostile feeling
against Russia of a strength and a
bitterness almost without precedent
since the Crimean war. Even the
most conservative who have been in
the service for many years and who
openly deplored the haste with which
they thought Great Britain had
plunged into the Transvaal war, to-
night frankly declared for a policy of
reprisal against what is regarded here
as Russia's violation of treaties and
her piratical attack on British COM
MERGE.
The warlike tone of such papers as
the Times, the Standard, the Morning
Post and the Daily Telegraph, which
in national crises hitherto almost in
variably have advised caution, has had
it's inevita Bile effect. There has been
stirred W. a storm of Indignation
among all classes in the United King
dom, the strength of which the gov
eminent itself can scarcely gauge.
Those who deplored the outbreak of
the war between Japan and Russia
and insisted that Great Britain, Grip
pied financially after her South Afri-
can experience must not at all costs
be drawn into the far eastern strug-
gle, are now among the most out
spoken champions of a physical force
that will prevent the repetition of the
Malacca incident in the Red sea.
The few officials at the foreign office
who are in full possession of all de-
tails of Great Britain's desire to arrive
at an entente with Russia are in
despair. They realize that the policy
so carefully fostered by King Edward
and Foreign Minister Lansdowne would
now be indignantly repudiated by all
parties in the house of commons and
involve with the public the downfall of
any ministry advocating it. Every
nerve will be strained, however. by the
foreign office to secure from Russia an
explanation that will pacify the ag-
grieved feelings of the British public
and no step will be taken that will tend
to prejudice subsequent diplomatic
looking to the settlement
of all important questions now out
standing between Russia and Great
Britain.
There is expressed at the foreign Of
flee and elsewhere almost poignant re-
greet that Russia. rightly or wrongly
should have taken up the position
evinced by the action of her volun-
teer cruisers in the Red sea.
Lord Lansdowne's policy since the
first whisper of war between Japan and
Russia. reached Downing street. has
When the outbreak came it was mat
ter for no little congratulations as point
ed out in these dispatches that Great
Britain had kept herself free from all
entanglements, thanks chiefly to the
hurrying of the Anglo-F'rench entente,
on the strength of what diplomats of
the nations concerned believed they
would be able to be detached specta-
tors of the struggle in the far east.
The unlocked for developments in the
DardaneIles and Red sea embarrass Lord
Lansdowne more than the circum-
stances themselves would indicate. The
sensions could scarcely stand for day
against a popular demand for reprisalS
against Russia and this very danger is
being assiduously fostered by leading
The news that there may be an ad-
justment of the difficulties as the re-
suit of an interview between Emperor
Nicholas and Count LamSdorff, given in
the Associated Press dispatch from ST
Petersburg is not yet known to the
British public and press. If such an
adjustment eventuates it will let Pre-
mier Balfour's government out of one
of the most awkward and most serious
crises it mas had to face in its check
cred career, but it will undoubtedly be
several months before the British pub
lie can forget what has been described
as the most humiliating incident in
British history since the Dutch victor
iously entered the Thames.
Special dispatches from Malta give