Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-27
ENGLISH TAKE ACTION
Send Protest Against Sinking
of Knight Commander.
SECRECY MAINTAINED
INSTRUCTIONS TO BRITISH AM
BASSADoR TO RUSSIA.
ECRECY MAINTAINED
Demand That Fullest Reparation Shall
Be Made-The Principle of In
demnity and Apology.

LONDON, July 27.-The British govern
ment is sending instructions to Sir Charles
Hardinge, the British ambassador to Rus
sia, today to energetically protest against
the sinking of the British steamer knight
Commander by the Russian Vladvostok
squadron. Until the presentation of the
note to the Russian government the great
est secrecy will be maintained regarding
its contents, but it is known that Premier
Balfour and his colleagues have decided to
demand that the fullest reparat ton shall be
made by Russia. or measures will be taken
to follow up the diplomatic demands
Amount of Indemnity Not Named.
The British note, as Sir Charles Hardinge
Will submit it, will not mention the amount
of indemnity Russia must pay the owners
or the ship and British subjects having
goods on board the vessel, but all that will
be sought will be the establishment of the
principle of indemnity and apology. A sa-
lutte of the British flag must also be con-
ceded and the future protection of neutral
shipping assured.
Result of Thorough Consideration.
The attitude of the British government is
the result of the thorough consideration
given to the reports received from Sir
Claude Macdonald, the British minister at
Tokyo, and the examination of interna-
tlonal law authorities by legal experts
The dispatches from Sir Claude Macdonald
confirm the reports that the Knight Com
nander mad no contraband of war on board
for Japan. The government and all the
British authorizes. 1t is asserted, unite on
the point that there was no justification for
the sinking of the vessel.
overshadows Red Sea Seizures.
1t is felt in government circles that the
Knight Commander incident oyershadows
the Red Sea seizures, which practically
nave been adjusted, but which have failed
10 settle the question of the rights of nell
trail commerce.
russian Ambassadors Position.
In the light Of the declaration of the
Russian government respecting contra
band OF war, made three weeks after hos
tilities commenced, no representations
have been made by Count Benckendorff.
the Russian ambassador to Great Britain
to Foreign Secretary Lansdowne regarding
the Knight Commander the ambassador
not having received advices from st. Pc
tersburg on the subject, nor is it seen by
the Russian diplomats how it is possible
for their government to make a prompt
answer to the British demands
1t is not known when the VIadiyostok
squadron Will return to port The COM
mander of the squadron, it is pointed out.
unquestionably seized the papers of the
vessel including her manifest, and, there
fore, will be able to present reasons to
show why he sank the ship, and with these
reasons in their possession the Russian
authorities will be able to complete their
answer to the British representations
Portion of Cargo Contraband.
In the opinion of these diplomats the
cargo, or at least a portion of the cargo.
of the Knight Commander included contra
band of war under the Russian declara-
ton. The bridge work among the cargo
is said to have been destined for the Fu-
san-Seoul railroad, which the Japanese
are building for military purposes.
The Russian declaration also announced
that rice and other foodstuffs are contra
band If sent at the enemys cost or order
Attention is specifically called to the fea-
ture of the declaration saying that "neu-
tral ships with contraband of war of any
sort can, according to circumstances, be
not only seized, but also confscated"
Declaration Never Questioned.
If the ship can be confiscated. it is con-
tended, she can Be sunk as well. While
Russia holds that her declaration has