No. 94
94.
Hongkong.
Sir,
Government House,
Hongkong, 10th March, 1904.
C. 323
12498
6830
With reference to your telegram of the 27th ultimo regarding the transshipment of Russian refugees from an Italian vessel, I have the honour to inform you that the refugees (7 Officers and 170 men) arrived in the Italian Man-of-war "Elba" on the 1st instant and left on the 8th idem by the French Mail Steamer "Australien" for Saigon and Europe, with the exception of one of the Officers who is severely wounded and whom I permitted to be received into the Government Civil Hospital on condition that the Russian Consul sends him to Russia as soon as he is sufficiently recovered to be able to travel.
2. Upon arrival of the "Elba" the Italian Consul-General made application on behalf of the Russian Consul for permission for all the Officers among the refugees to land and remain on shore while waiting for the "Australien". In view of the terms of your telegram, I
3. declined to give this permission but allowed the 6 unwounded Officers to land daily in company with the Officers of the "Elba".
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
&c. &c.
B.C.C. 1