Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 17.pdf/388

 THE NORTH SEA INQUIRY of the responsibility for the failure to give assistance upon the Commander of the Kamchatka, who erroneously reported the presence of torpedo-boats in the rear of the squadron? Admiral Rojdestvensky, in a telegram from Vigo, where he was detained by the order of the Russian Government and with the consent of the Spanish Government, to Captain Bostroem, Naval Attaché at the Russian Embassy, under date of October 27, 1905, used the following language: "Our ships refrained from giving assist ance to the trawlers on account of their apparent complicity, which they manifested by their persistence in attempting to pass through our line." The results of the Inquiry will be watched with great interest in connection with the cause of Arbitration and the popularity of

367

the Hague Convention. Certainly its pri mary object, to avert a threatened war, must be conceded to have been accomplished. A movement is already on foot, led by the Massachusetts State Board of Trade, to neutralize zones of commerce between im portant ports of North America, Great Britain, and Europe. Should the North Sea incident serve to augment this movement and to liberate commerce from an unneces sary risk and human life from an unneces sary peril; and should it serve to enhance the growing desire for an efficient Interna tional Court and the abolition of war, the mystery of the attack on October 21, 1904, upon a fleet of fishing vessels, engaged in a peaceful pursuit, and the death of its vic tims, if not explained, will at least have been utilized. PARIS, FRANCE, April, 1905.