No. 21.
Sir,
Enclosure 2.
CO.646L15986
Pace
$0.041
ht
Hongkong, 30th April, 1904.
With reference to our conversation of yesterday and to your private letter, which I had the honour to receive today, I feel obliged to protest against the action of the Government of Hongkong to allow a Japanese Steamer to load in this neutral port a quantity of 12,000 cases dynamite besides Gelatine and Detonators.
I take the liberty to remember as a precedent that during the war in Acheen, the Government of the Straits Settlements prohibited exportation of war material to the scene of war and that still now the exportation of arms munition from Hongkong to South China is not free.
I therefore cannot understand why the Government of Hongkong after the declaration of neutrality allows that considerable quantities of explosives are stored in this Colony and shipped to a port in Japan.
I think this is not in accordance with the meaning of neutrality and I must draw the attention of the Russian Government to this serious question.
Article 6 of the Treaty signed at Washington April 1871 between Great Britain and the United States of America agrees that neutral Powers are not free to allow any belligerent to use the harbours or waters of the neutral Power in order to renew or increase her munition or armament.
I take the liberty to request you to
To
The Honourable
A. M. Thomson, Colonial Secretary.
again