Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1904. Russia in Trouble.

Manawatu Herald, 23 July 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1904. Russia in Trouble.

Russia evidently practises a code of international laws peculiar to herself, without regard to whether it be in agreement with the world’s rules ,oi international warfare. This assertion appears to be borne out by the recent cases of the “ Prince Heindrich ” and the “ Malacca.” The former—a German vessel—was stopped in the Red Sea by a Russian commerce destroyer, the “ Smolensk,” who seized some of the German mails, and tip to the present has refused to return them. ' The action of the “ Smolensk ” is apparently illegal, though there seems to be some difference of opinion as to whether detaining the mail bags of a neutral vessel is an act in excess of the right of search vested in a Power when at war. Sir Frederick Pollock, Professor of Jurisprudence at Oxford University, and a man intimately acquainted with the intricacies of international law, is Of the opinion that warships, properly commissioned, have a right to search neutral vessels for contraband of war, and to overhaul their mails, though he states that he has never heard of a Power having the right to remove or detain mails. According to this view the action of the “ Smolenskis undoubtedly a breach of international law, for, not beiug commissioned as a man-of-war, but merely being one of Russia’s mercantile marine, she had no right to stop and search the “ Prince Heihdrich," a non-belligerent vessel, or to examine her mails. Moreover, whether the “ Smolensk ” be classed as a warship or not is immaterial, since whatever Jier classification, it was beyond the scope of her authority to detain the mails of a neutral vessel. The opinion of Sir Frederick Pollock may perhaps be erroneous, but coming from so reliable a source it is more than likely to be correct. If itis, the action of the “ Smolensk ” amounts to piracy, and Russia will be compelled to make some substantial restitution to the injured parties. Germany has lodged a protest with the Russian Government in reference to the withholding of the marls of the “ Prince Heindrich,’’ and the Russian authorities, pursuing their usual tactics, have given an evasive reply, stating that they must await a report from the officers of the “ Smolensk" before taking any steps in the matter. It will be interesting to watch the outcome of the affair. No doubt it is only “ a storm in a tea-kettle,” though in some quarters it is thought that the dispute is only a prelude to further and more serious trouble. It is more probable however, that Russia will patch the mattar up by making a formal apology, for it would be a most precarious and undiplomatic proceeding on her part to alienate the goodwill of one of the only two Powers that have evinced any disposition to espouse her cause in the struggle with the Japs. Another, and for us a more important, matter, is the seizing of the British ship “ Malacca ” by one of the Russian Volunteer fleet, the “ St. Petersburg,” on the pretext that she was carrying arms and ammunition consigned to the Japanese. Later information states that the cargo was marked with the broad arrow of the British Government, and that it was intended for the use of the China squadron. Apart from unlawfully seizing the vessel, the Russians appear to have added insult to injury by tearing down the British ensign, which the commander of the Malacca had patriotically nailed to his mast-head, and hoisting the Russian standard in its stead. The British captain alleges that his ship was captured two and a half miles from land, within territorial waters. The crew have been landed at Port Said, and the captain is now on his way home to report to the Government. The latter have not been slow to take the matter up, and the ambassador at St. Petersburg has warned the Russian Government that the position is very critical, and that the action of the " St. Petersburg" was altogether unwarrantable. The " Malacca " is now in charge of a prize crew, and it is thought her destination is either the French port of Cherbourg on the English Chennel, or the Russian port of Libau on the Baltic. The Times, the leading English newspaper, states that the country is unanimous that the Malacca must not be permitted to leave Port Said under the Russian flag. The Standard endorses this' sentiment. Whether the British can or will prevent it being done is doubful, though it is probable that the " Malacca" will not be suffered to pass unmolested under the very nose as it were of the two mightiest sections of the British navy, the Mediterranean and Channel squadrons. It is impossible to do more than guess what steps will be taken by the. British Government, but it is anticipated that something will be done without, loss of time. Whatever the future may hold in store, the present relations between Britain and Russia are, to say the least, somewhat “ strained.” Nor does the procrastinating conduct of the Russian authorities help to relieve the tension. Apparently, too, Russia has broken the treaty of 1841, to which she was a party, made between the Great Powers and Turkey, by which it was laid down that no warship, other than Turkish, should be allowed to make the passage of the Dardanelles without first obtainthe permission of the Porte. It is announced that the Russian cruiser, Tchernomoretz, has set the treaty at defiance by passing through the Dardanelles without Turkey’s consent, but

according to Mr Douglas, British Home Secretary, the report has not been confirmed. The next few days will no doubt see these variqus matters determined one way or the other, and further develop ments will be watched with keen interest by the different sections of the British Empire in all parts of the globe.