OCR Text |
Show DON'T LIKE BALFOUR'S TALI His Speech Objected to in Paris. Creates Unfavorable Impression Impres-sion in Russian Quarters of French Capital. St. Petersburg, It Is Said, Will Similarly Disapprove the Previous Previ-ous Remarks. PARIS, Oct. 29. Tho speech of Premier Pre-mier Balfour, at Southampton last night, has created a decidedly unfavorable unfavor-able impression in the highest Russian quarters here, and it Is stated by those in the best position to judge that the views of St Petersburg will similarly disapprove the Premier's remarks. The following statements were given to the Associated Press from the most authoritative au-thoritative sources: Object to Balfour's Deduction. "Mr. Balfour's deduction that Admiral Ad-miral Rojestvensky's statement is pure fancy is based on the Premier's declaration decla-ration that the Admiral was looking out for torpedo boats coming from Japan. As a matter of fact, the Russian Rus-sian Admiral was not guarding against torpedo boats coming thousands of miles from Japan, as that would have been manifestly absurd, but ho was guarding against torpedo boats armed and equipped in the vicinity of tho North sen-Hot sen-Hot Mere Speculation. "This Is not a matter of speculation or imagination, but Is a matter of fact upon which the Russian authorities have been furnished with precise details. de-tails. This Information establishes that the Japanese fitted up craft as torpedo boats at certain Swedish ports and that they also had a large number num-ber of Japanese officers at Newcastle-on-Tyne and other Important English shipping points for the evident purpose of fitting out craft to obstruct the Russian Rus-sian squadron. Therefore, Instead of these torpedo boats being Imaginary mftn. pomlrnr thousands of miles from Japan, the Russian authorities possess precise Information that such torpedo boats were actually fitting out at points near tho North sea. Another Important Point "A second Important point on which Mr. Balfour's statement creates an erroneous impression Is his saying that the Russian squadron on Dogger bank was many miles away from the usual route- As a matter of fact, the Russian Rus-sian naval route through the North sea Is across Dogger bank. This Is not the route of the British and other navies, na-vies, but the Russian navy has preferred pre-ferred It because tho shallowness of the water permits easier soundings for the purpose of locating tho positions uf the ships. Therefore. Instead of the Russian squadron being far out of its course, as Mr. Balfour asserts. It was practically In its right course. There 13 no doubt" that the Japanese informed themselves concerning the probable route of iliQ Russian squadron and were aware that the Russian naval route would take the squadron acroos the Dogger bank. Japanese Activity. i "As a means of indicating the pre-clseness pre-clseness of the details reaching the Russian authorities concerning .Tarja-nese .Tarja-nese activity near the North sea the following specific case Is cited, which came to the knowledge of the Russian authorities: Only two days before the North sea occurrence the Consul-Gen-cral of ono of tho important nations represented here wrote a letter saying that Demetrios Ivllpos, living formerly at Patras, Greece, had made the following follow-ing statement to the Consul-General: Story Told by Cook. " 'Ivllpos shipped as master's cook from a port in Scotland on board tho Japanese ship Ttsima, The ship came to Brest whence she began making trips of surveillance of channel ships, took In the Japanese flag and ralapd sometimes the American fing and sometimes some-times the Swedish flag. Ivllpos. perceiving per-ceiving that the Itslma was ndt upon an ordinary merchant cruise, but was engaged in a dangerous mission of surveillance over Russian ships, left the ship at Brest, came here and reported re-ported to the Consul-Gcneral, who reported re-ported In writing to the Russian authorities.' au-thorities.' Will Go Before Commission. "There is reason to believe that some of the foregoing details wlil get before the International commission and that they will constitute some of tho features of Russia's view point of tho British charges." Definite details concerning the meeting meet-ing of the commission have not been arranpred, but it ls the understanding In French official and diplomatic quarters quar-ters that Great Britain and Rus3la will each make separate and Individual inquiries, which will be submitted to the commission at The Hague for final adjustment The maritime registers available do not contain the name of a Japaneaa ship of the name of Itslma, either steam or sailing vessel. |