New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-26
| ord Morley Says Any State May
Start Inquiry Such as That
Now Under Way.
PUBLIC DOESN'T THINK so
MARQUIS Of Lansdowne, Leader
of the Opposition, Expresses
Appreciation of Course Pur-
sued at Washington.

Earl StdnnOpe TeilldIheu tHo' ''0 III
,,iry seemed to have only two grounds
If Justification. The tirst was that the
steamship company concerned was not
.ltop-ther British but partly American
- that we're so it would obviously create
,.rv extraordinary situation. because
f., struck at the root of the posi-
ZION of the mercantile marine IN
time Of war as TO whether the
,ossel belonged to neutral or 10
, belligerent power. The only other
..~,,,rd was based on the terrible loss
of life If that were given as a reason
r.,r the inquiry at Washington. obvious
ID. otber nations whose citizens were
.,osecnqers on board the Titanic would
ne justified in holding similar inquiries.
rarI Stanhope added that he couid
,Ina.inc nothing more terrpie 10 'i'e
survivors, than attendance at series VI
.oouiries in different countries. lie Was
...vious TO know whether the evidence
,,cn before the Senatorial committee
could he admissible at the inquiry here
.,a evnressed the opinion that evidence
,.;,c, 81 the first investigation was. OF
.,reo far more valuable and more
trustworthy than evidence given on
,,,ar occasion He considered that uh-
loss the evidence given in the United
.,ates were admitted at the inquiry in
This country Great Britain would oo-
,.ouslv he penalized.
Iarl Stanhope agreed that the Alneri-
ra, inquiry could he left to the good
,ane. If the American people. The re-
la,ions between this country and the
United states. he said. were so friendly
,rat no international question could
,rssjhlv arise. There existed. however
he aid. a certain amount Of feeling III
this country on the subject OF the
American inquiry. although not so
strong or SO forcibly worded as would
have been the feeling in America If the
Titanic had been an American ship ana
,;reat Britain were holding an inquiry
concerning American citizens
Dancer Of a Precedent.
rsrl Stanhope feared that there was
danger If a precedent beng set up, and
h6ull some other power with Whlch
Great Britains relations were not so
friendly attempt to detain British citi-
1ens under similar circumstances II
might become serious.
Vjscouut Morley of Blackburn. Lord
President Of the Council. on behalf Of
the government said:
There is no doubt that any state may
institute an inquiry about the wreck o'
: foreion vessel in which the lives OF ITS
own people had been lost, without any
de,arture from International law, al
tbnuoh we are not aware Of any sueh
cas-. hsvinu arisen heretofore. Comnnu-
rications have not been addressed on
the subject to the government OF the
UniteJ States, nor have any been re-
oeveJ from any other power by u.s.
Lord Morley pointed out that all the
evidence given in the United States
would be available at Lord Merseys In
curry. and continued:
As 70 the detention of witnesses. pow
ers Of that kind exist in most countries
but il is obvious that where such powers
exist they should be exercised with full
consideration for the witnesses them
At home. We can not and do not suppose
that the committee of the Senate will
overlook that necessity"
Lord Morley deprecated discussion,
50 wing that it would be premature and
would do no good. whereas 1t might be
prejudicial.
Approves Senatorial Inquiry.
The Marquis Of Lansdowne, leader Of
the Opposition. said he quite approved Of
the American inquiry. although he adj
mitted that it was unusual. The cir
cumstances, he pointed out, were wholly
unparalleled, and continued:
America has the right Of insisting on
4 prompt inquiry into tho loss Of tho Ii.
tanic, as il is clear there are better
chances OF obtaining trustworthy ac-
counts while the events are still re-
cent
The British public, as a whole, how
ever, is displaying considerable resent
ment at the course which the American
Senate committee is taking with regard
10 the detention Of British subjects and
he manner Of their examination. The
matter is being discussed everywhere,
and in general the opinion is expressed
that ]. Bruce Ismay. managing director
of the International Mercantile Marine
and the crew of the Titanic have been
convicted before the trial.
The subject is one of great anxiety in
official circles. as 1t is feared that should
the Senate committee condemn the COM
pany and the crew its action would give
rise to Ill feeling between the two peo-
pies. Thus far the British Foreign Of
fee has simply asked Am bassador Bryce
for information relative 10 the inquiry.
The dissatisfaction Of the public might
be alleviated if 1t had clearer idea as
TO the scope or intention OF the Ameri-
can Investigation. II 10 admitted that
tho Senate has a perfect right to In
auire into the death Of Americans, but 1t
Is felt that the committee is going far
beyond this.
Some Of the questions asked by Sem
ator Smith, chairman Of the committee,
are reproduced and editorially ridiculed
IN tne newspapers to-day. THE Globe"
refers to the Senator as born fool
ana as "a gentleman from the wilds
Oh Michigan, who possibly Is compelled
ny the exigencies of electioneering to be
as insolent as possible to Englishmen.
unfortunately the investigation is very
much In his hands. and the best efforts
OF the more reputable Senator'S hardly
can serve TO nullify the harm he has