December 25 for de facto non grata,
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better that each country should provide for casual paupers and imbecile Foreigners. The German Government have since declined to repatriate German paupers on the ground that this country afforded no reciprocity.
In view of these circumstances Lord Lansdowne does not consider that His Majesty's Government could with propriety call upon the German Government to repatriate Ahrens from Hong Kong notwithstanding that the laws of that Colony may permit the removal of persons therefrom.
On the other hand it was argued in 1891 in the case of Italy, with which country a similar understanding exists, that the arrangement did not apply to the Colonies, and the Italian Government were therefore requested to repatriate an Italian lunatic from Hong Kong. The Italian Government replied that they considered that pauper lunatics were customarily maintained in the country where they resided. It was subsequently urged that there was no proper accommodation at Hong Kong for incurable lunatics and the Italian Government eventually consented to receive the lunatic in question if repatriated at the cost of the Colony.
The German Government were also, under similar circumstances, requested to allow the repatriation of a German lunatic from Hong Kong at the expense of the Colony, the hope being expressed that under the circumstances the German Government would not take exception to this course, but before an answer was received, the German Ambassador was informed that arrangements had been made for the disposal of the lunatic which rendered repatriation unnecessary.
In view of the foregoing facts it appears to Lord Lansdowne to be open to His Majesty's Government to appeal to the German Government in the case of Ahrens, as was done in the similar case above referred to in 1893, on the grounds then urged of the want of accommodation, but in view of the understanding come to in 1872 His Majesty's Government could scarcely do more.
I am to enquire whether in these circumstances Mr.