No
Hongkong.
February
1904.
Sir,
...
C.O.
10040
225
23 MAR 04
Government House;
Hongkong, 24th February, 1904.
I have the honour to inform you that application has recently been made to me by the Commander-in-Chief on this Station to permit 10 severely wounded Russian seamen rescued by His Majesty's Ship "Talbot" at Chemulpo from the Russian Warships "Koreetz" and "Varyag" destroyed in an action with Japanese Ships of War, to be landed here and treated in the Government Civil Hospital.
2.
I have accorded the permission and it is expected that the men will be landed on the 25th instant. At the same time I asked Admiral Bridge to quote me his authority for stating that these ten seamen were neutralised owing to their being wounded and should be handed over on their recovery to the Russian Consul here for disposal. I attach a copy of his reply.
3.
As the procedure which the Admiral proposes seems hardly in accordance with International Law I request that you will be good enough to instruct me by telegraph how these seamen should be dealt with. It is expected that they will be confined in Hospital for a month at least.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
&C...
&C.,
800..
no t