Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-10-28
PEACE OF EUROPE
IS THREATENED.
The Diplomatic Relations Are
Very Much
Strained.
ULTIMATUM BARELY AVOIDED
Russian Report Saves Declaration Of
War-Late Reports Shows the EN-.
bassies Hard At Work Trying to
Effect European Peace.

Gibraltar, Oct. 27.-The ships Of the
British channel fleet cleared their
decks yes ,erday afternoon. 1t is rum
ored that the whole fleet, with the ex-
ception OIL the battleship Caesar, will
steam westward today with the al
legged purpose o. making snam attack
against the rock of Gibraltar.
Several torpedo boats left Tangier
yesterday afternoon fully equipped.
Work at the arsenal is proceeding
under high pressure.
A division OF tue Mediterranean
fleet comprising six battleships, all
the armoured cruisers and twenty tor.
pedo boats is expected to arrive to-
day.
LONDON. Oct. 2S.-One Of the most
complicated diplomatic situations in
recent history, and one tuat Is at
tended with the most dangerous pos
sibilities for the peace of the whole of
Europe. exists today with no sign OF
immediate solution. The tension 49,"
arose when the dispute between Great
Britain and Russia resolved itself
into the simple question whether Rus
STA would or would not guarantee in
advance that some punishment should
be administered to the offending Off
GERS of the Baltic squadron, has been
modified by the Introduction of an en-
tirely new set of contentious con-
tanned in Vics Admiral Rojestvensky's
report. Yet even the most astute
diplomats who recognize temporary
Improvement in conditions. are puz-
lled by the complications that so cur
lously cause it. However, there is at
the embassies of powers not con-
cerned in the dispute very strong
conviction that a way out will be
found other than in recourse to war.
The foreign Office, apparently as
puzzled as the onlookers, pursues the
policy of silence, and the British
press is almost totally uniformed.
The voluminous exchanges daily oc-
curing between London and st. Pet
ersburg continue the statement that
90 reply from Russia has been re-
ceived adding to the implication that
Russia is Intentionally ignoring the
British representations. In this mis-
conception which is chiefly RESPONSE
BILE for the stirring up of a popular
agitation against which the govern
ulSuI uldy IL Iol " oluuu ouI
n the possible event of Foreign Min
lister Lansdowne withdrawing the de-
mand that Russia guarantee punish
ment before inquiry is instituted.
Had Admiral Rojestvenskys re-
port not arrived it Is possible the dis
pute would have been settled one way
or the other tonight It's terms, how
ever, are generally held to prevent
presentation OF the ultimatum which
Great Britain undoubtedly intended to
send. Although Lord Lansdowne has
frankly said that the circumstances
reported by Admiral Rojestvensky
are to him uncomfortable, the foreign
minister is not prevented from seeing
that new light has been thrown on the
outrage" and that diplomatic usage
now compels less urgent action than
the British government at first con-
templated.
In the present temper of the British
nation it is not at all likely that PREF
arations for hostilities will be relaxed
or that popular cutlery will be dimin-
ished by Admiral Rojestvensky's re-
port; but it is understood that Great
Britain would run the risk Of forfeit
ing in some degree the good will Of
France and certainly that of Germany,
If she proceeded to substitute war
like for diplomatic steps, of which in.
tention, so it is stated at the Russian
embassy tonight, there is no indica-
ton in Lord Lansdowne's cOmmuni.
cation.
The attitude of France is held to be
of the highest Importance. 1t was
said today by the representative of
another great power that if France
had given definite assurances that she
would not support Russia in the event
of war growing out of the North sea
incident hostile issue would be al
most inevitable, as the temptation to
crush the Russian naval power after
such provOcatiOn could scarcely have
been refused by Great Britain. 1t is
pointed out that it is greatly to
Frances interest to preserve peace
and her efforts in that direction OBJ
viously will be strengthened by not
committing herself, except at the last
moment. So long as Great Britain is
not sure whether France will help
Russia she will not be likely to en-
gage in war; while Russia, with
France neutral, would, so it is thought
at most of the embassies, scarcely in.
vite defeat. The most probable solu.
ton of the rumors regarding Frances
position is said by high authority
to be that she has given both disput-
ants to understand that she does not
desire to become involved, but has re.
served her final decision.