FRENCH EFFORTS TO PRESERVE NEUTRALITY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12190, 10 May 1905, Page 7

FRENCH EFFORTS TO PRESERVE NEUTRALITY.

ADEQUATE POLTCE MEASURES TAKEN. (Received May 9th, 11.32 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. The Paris correspondent of " The Times" reports that owing to the urgent representations made by Franoe, Admiral Rozhdestvensky quitted French territorial waters three days ago. French instructions were s<ent requesting the Russians not to return or to use French waters as a base of operations. Adequate police measures are also in course of execution to prevent belligerent ships entering or using the French Indo-Chinese territorial waters for any purposes whatever. It is emphatically denied that the French authorities were passive onlookers of, the Russians coaling and provisioning. Admiral Rozhdestvensky was repeatedly requested to leave Kamranh and subsequent mooring places, but he did not heed the request until Admiral Jonquieres's representations were backed up by a small naval force. The knowledge of these facts doubtless prevented the Japanese going beyond the lines of diplomacy. RUSSIAN FLEET LOCATED. ACTION BY THE FRENCH ADMIRAL. (Received May 10th, 1.2 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. A report ' from Saigon, dated Monday, etates that Admiral Jonquieree's -scouts located Admiral Rozhdestvensky's fleet, which, on leaving Hongkoto, sailed towards another bay to the south,. Admiral llozhdeetvensky. thereupon promised to weigh anchor immediately. MORE COMMENT BY "THE TIMES." OPTIMISM OF THE UNDERWRITERS. (Received May 10th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. "The Times" says that the French statement is satisfactory in its tenor so far as it goes, but denies that the Hong Kong charges lack precision. ' "The Times." in its insurance notes, declares that, however critical the situation may be, the underwriters refuse to believe that France and Britain will not succeed in moving Admiral Rozhdestvensky on, and allaying Japanese irritation. It is an accepted axiom with them that two groat nations will not permit themselves to be dragged into war against their wills. The Stock Exchange and the Continental Bourses, owing to the crisis, are depressed.