On Monday the International Commission of Inquiry into the North
Sea incident resumed its sittings. Baron von Spann presided, and proposed as President Admiral Fournier, which was unanimously agreed to. The French delegate then took the chair, and welcomed the new members, conveying to Admiral Kaznakoff the hope that his health would soon be restored. The rest of the week has been taken up with discussions on procedure, in order to ascertain the exact role of the . legal assessors and the agents of the British and Russian Governments ; and also to determine the nature of the Inquiry. It has now been resolved that all evidence shall be taken in public, and though the deliberations will be in secret, any decisions arrived at will be communicated from time to time to the Press. The Commission regards its duties as investigating rather than judicial, and will not attempt to make an arbitral award in the ordinary sense, but will present the body of evidence sifted and arranged, as well as the con- clusions it draws as to the responsibility of the parties.
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