Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-23
UsSIAN ADMIRAL TO BE EX-
ONERATED.

A semi official statement appeared III
Paris last night relative TO the work OF
the international commission, which has
been considering the North Sea incident.
1t is as follows:
"The Hull commission met this
morning in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. and again this'afternoon in or
der TO proceed to final examination OF
the report recapituating its conclusions.
The report is rather long, comprising
about 10 large pages. The principal
author is Admiral Won Spaun (Austrlan);
but all the members OF the commission
collaborated in drawing it up. The
commission gives no opinion on the
question of the presence or absence OF
japanese torpedo boats in the North
Sea. declaring merely that the Russian
admiral quite legitimately believed that
his squadron was endangered, aud that
he had the right under the circumstances
to act as he did. The commissioners
refer TO the Russian governments
engagements to indemnify the vic
tins of the deplorable incident. The
report will be sent tomorrow by
special messengers to the Russian ana
British governments, not because IL u
liable TO notifications at the instance OF
one or other of the governments, the
commissions decision being without
appeal but the commissioners do not
wish the powers interested to simply
learn through the press OF the last puoiic
sitting and the conclusions arrived at
There is nothing in this preliminary
communication or report except an act
of defer ence.'
The pnblic sitting for the reading OF
the conclusions will probably be held on
Saturday. The admirals will not be 10
full uniform. The proceedings probably
will be closed by speech of thanks by
Admiral Fournier Qhe president OF the
commission) to his colleagues.
Members of the commission who were
seen last night refused either to confirm
or deny the statement but officials
having favorable opportunities to Judge
of the results Of the inquiry consld,r
the statement 10 be substantially
correct.
A strong chord of indignation sounded
10 the London daily newspapers this
morning over the semi-official statement
relative to the decision of the North Sea
commission givingto Russia the victory,
but it is still hoped that the publication
of the full text of the commissions re-
port may modify the impression pro-
duced by the preliminary version,
which is one of intense disappointment.
The Daily Mail goes so far as to de-
clare that the decision has dealt death
blow to arbitration. Some of the news
papers blame the government strongly for
ever consenting to subject such matter to
arbitration, while some of the govern
merit organs find cold comfort in the fact
that the country, by doing so, avoided
war with Russia. No question is raised
that the decision must be respected, and
Great Britains share of the heavy costs
will be ruefully paid; but it is considered
that the decision leaves the question OF
neutraps right on the high seas in de-
plorably unsatisfactory state, and creates
dangerous precedent.
The Morning Post says; "a new
iogma of international law is thus estab-
Iished, under which the commander OF
beIligerent feet may attack and destroy
neutral unarmed vessels without any
other plea than that he conceived his
ships might be in danger. This doctrine
is so monstrous and inconceivable that
we can only yet hope the official report
will give different reading"
Just before parliament rose Tuesday
night, replying to the question whether
any precautiOn to protect the fishing
fleet on the Dogger Bank during the
pessage of the third Russian Pacific
squadron had been taken, Premier Bal
four said that his majesty's government
placed implicit reliance on Russian as
surances that they had taken every pre-
caution to guard against the recurrence
of any such incident, and that special
instructions had been issued to the
vbola Russian feet with this object in