Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-28
PASSED ACUTE STAGE
Controversy Over Red Sea In
cidents Concluding.
BALFOUR'S STATEMENT
PREMIER DISCUSSED EVENTS IN
COMMONS TODAY.
Knight Commander Sinking More Seri,
Gus Than Malacca Affair-No
Change of Views.

LONDON, July os.-In the house OF COM
mons this afternoon Premier Balfour, con-
firming the announcements made in these
dispatches, said the acute stage Of the Red
incidents had passed, and that the Rus
sian volunteer fleet vessels would be with
drawn. He laid down the British view that
no belligerent warships could issue from
the Black sea, and that the volunteer fleet
vessels. in issuing therefrom. If they took
belligerent action, either had no right to
issue no right to take such action.
The strongest possible exception had been
taken to the seizure of the Malacca on the
above ground, the premier added. The
Russian government had met the British
contention in regard to this particular Incl
dent As to the knight Commander case.
the government had earnestly protested
that the sinking of that vessel con-
trary to the accepted practice of nations.
Balfour's Exact Words.
Mr.. Balfours exact words In regard to
the Russian assurances on the subject OF
the seizure of the Malacca and other ves-
sells follows:
The Russian government has met us
in this matter, 1 will not say on general
principle, but in regard to this particular
instance The Malacca could not be stop
ped before she left Port Said. hut she has
now been released at Algiers. The Russian
government at the same time gave US as
surances that If the vessels of the volun-
teer fleet made further captures before in
structions could reach them. pending the
discussion of the general principle involved
no action should be taken. and that these
captures should be regarded as not having
occurred.
In accordance with that arrangement the
Ardova and Formosa have been released
We have received assurances that the VOL
unteer fleet vessels are to be withdrawn
from the Red and we have little doubt
w he nn fttrfh fhar aStr ha
part of the Russian government to employ
them as cruisers. So far, therefore. as
those ships go the controversy has passed
out or the acute stage. l Will not say that
the governments of this country and Rus
sia have reached an agreement on the gem
eral principle, but / think We need not an
ucipate any practical violation of the view
which we very strongly hold is likely to oc-
cur"
Mr.. Balfour assumed more serious tone
as he referred to the Knight Commander.
Knight Commander Affair.
There are. am sorry to say said the
premier, "other questions not connected
with the incident at all which must cause
some discussion between the two govern
ments, and like all discussions between gov
ernments there may be legitimate cause
for anxiety. We hold that 1t is not proper
that on the authority of the captain of a
cruiser that goods alleged to be contra
band Of war should be taken from a mer-
chant ship without trial
This statement of the premier was greet
ed with outburst of cheers.
The proper course" continued Mr.. Bal
four according to international practice.
is that any ship reasonably suspected OF
carrying contraband Of war, should be
taken by the belligerent to one of Its own
ports, and Its trial should there occur be-
fore prize court, by which the case Is 10
be determined Evidently IL II is left to
the captain of a cruiser to decide on his
own initiative and authority whether par
ticular articles carried on a ship are or are
not contra band what is not merely a prac-
tice of nations, but what Is a necessary
foundation of equitable relations between
belligerents and neutrals would be cut
down to the root.
Sinking Contrary to War Practices
This statement of the premier was alss
cheered. He continued:
More serious than the others Is the case
of the Knight Commander. If, as our in
formation leads US to fear, she was sunk
by a cruiser of the Vladfvostok squadron on
the ground that she carried contraband OF
war. in our view 1t is entirely contrary to
the practice of nations in war time and we
have earnestly pressed our view on the Rus
sian government We are under strong
impression that when the case Is brought.
as 1t has been brought by us. before the
Russian government that they will give
such orders as to prevent a recurrence of
unfortunate incidents OF that character
feel confident that will be the case.
In conclusion Mr.. Balfour said:
Il cannot help feeling that there Is some
misapprehension regarding the duty incum-
bent on neutrals. l have SO far only stated
what we believe to be the duties and obliga-
tions of belIigerents and these duties TO the
best of our abilities mean to see carried
into effect but the belligerent of today is
the neutral of tomorrow and the neutral of
today is the belligerent of tomorrow.
Duties Of Neutrals.
There are duties incumbent on neutrals
which must be borne in mind by the ship
owners of the country. 1t is undoubtedly
the duty of a captain of neutral ship to
stop when summoned to stop by cruiser
of a belligerent, and to allow, without diff
ficulty, his papers to be examined. That OBJ
ligati on neutrals We have systematically,
consistently and sternly enforced when
have been belligerents and 1t would not be-
come to minimize that duty"
In reply to a question regarding the seiz-
ures in the Red Sea, Mr.. Balfour said that
If any damage had been done the claims for
compensation would not be affected by the
Anglo Russian arrangement.
Asked whether any difference between the
two countries likely to lead to war would be
referred to The Hague arbitration tribunal
the premier replied:
That is a hypothetical question which
can hardly be expected to answer. The gov
ernment will not be suspected of any desire
to plunge recklessly into hostilities. / would
be travelling beyond my functions IL were
to say what cases are or are not of a char
acter which should be submitted to The
Hague tribunal until the case arises "