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encroachments, presumably in Corea. Ascertain and report, as soon as possible, what is known of this, Appendix No. 4. and what Russian Government is doing in the matter.
PORT HAMILTON.
Inclosure 21 in No. 104.
Mr. Doria to Foreign Office.
(Telegraphic.)
St. Petersburgh, July 30, 1875.
JAPANESE Minister here has no knowledge of recent differences with Corea, and is not appre- hensive of the Russian encroachments.
Russian Government also uninformed on the subject.
Inclosure 22 in No. 104.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.
Sir,
Admiralty, August 3, 1875.
WITH reference to your letter of the 2nd instant,* transmitting drafts of instructions which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs proposes to address to Her Majesty's Minister in Japan, in answer to his telegram advising the occupation by a British force of Port Hamilton, on the coast of Corea, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that, in conformity with the Earl of Derby's wish, the following telegram has been dispatched, in cypher, to Vice-Admiral Ryder, at Nagasaki
"With reference to your telegrams, Her Majesty's Government do not think it desirable to set to other nations the example of occupying places to which Great Britain has no title.Ӡ
2. My Lords desire me to add that they will cause a further communication to be made to you in reference to that part of the other proposed telegram to Sir Harry Parkes, which refers to the steps which might be taken by Vice-Admiral Ryder for the protection of British subjects and
commerce.
Inclosure 23 in No. 104.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
Admiralty, August 4, 1875.
Sir,
WITH reference to your letter of the 2nd August* relative to the proposed occupation of Port Hamilton, on the coasts of Corea, and to my reply of 3rd instant, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will state to the Earl of Derby that, in view of the instruction which has, by his Lordship's wish, been communicated by telegraph to the Naval Commander-in-chief in China, to the effect that Her Majesty's Government do not think it desirable to occupy Port Hamilton, my Lords would suggest that, in the concluding part of the further proposed instructions to Sir Harry Parkes, which refers to the steps to be taken for he protection of British subjects and commerce, the word "other" should be inserted before steps.
2. This alteration would have the effect of precluding occupation of Port Hamilton without authority from home. In other respects my Lords concur in the proposed instructions, and on being informed of the adoption of their suggestion, they will communicate them to Vice-Admiral Ryder by telegraph.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
Sir,
Inclosure 24 in No. 104.
Foreign Office to Admiralty.
Foreign Office, August 4, 1875.
I AM directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date,§ marked "Immediate and Confidential," relative to the proposed occupation of Port Hamilton, on the coast of Corea, suggesting, on the part of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, in the concluding part of the further proposed instructions to Her Majesty's Minister in Japan, which refers to the steps to be taken for the protection of British subjects and commerce, the word "other" should be inserted before "steps," as such alteration would have the effect of pre- cluding the occupation of Port Hamilton without authority from home, and I am to state to you, in reply, for the information of their Lordships, that their suggestion has been adopted, and that Sir Harry Parkes has been instructed accordingly.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
TENTERDEN.
* Inclosure 15.
+ See Inclosure 3.
Inclosure 22.
§ Inclosure 23.
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